10cc Star Graham Gouldman-Modesty Forbids

February 21, 2020 Leave a comment

10cc Star Graham Gouldman To Release First Solo Album in Eight Years

On 21 Febuary 2020, 10cc’s Graham Gouldmanwill release ‘Modesty Forbids’,his first solo album in eight years.Released on British independent record label Lojinx, Modesty Forbids is the fifth solo album of Graham’s career, and his first since 2012’s ‘Love And Work’. Featuring eleven tracks, the album’s release will coincide with 10cc’s 14-date Australia and New Zealand tour, ahead of the rest-of-world release in March 2020.

With Graham’s 10cc tours enjoying ever-increasing success around the world in recent years, in 2018 he was invited by former Beatles’ drummer Ringo Starr to join his All Starr Band for tours of Europe and the USA, during which the band played three 10cc songs, elevating Graham’s profile yet further.

That relationship continues, with Ringo making a very special guest appearance on Modesty Forbids, playing drums on a song called ‘Standing Next To Me’.

Heres the tracklist along with Graham’s succinct descriptions-

Track-by-track guide to ‘Modesty Forbids’, by Graham Gouldman

‘Standing Next To Me’(written by Graham Gouldman)

“A song about being asked to join, and my experiences with, Ringo Starr And His All Starr Band. I would stand next to Ringo front of stage when he wasn’t playing the drums. It was a surreal and wonderful experience to see him ‘Standing Next To Me’. It was also brilliant to be on the road with the other members of the All Starr Band, namely Steve Lukather, Colin Hay, Gregg Rolie, Gregg Bissonette, and Warren Ham. A dream come true.”

‘That’s Love Right There’ (written by Graham Gouldman)

“Whenever I go on the road my wife Ariella leaves little notes in my suitcase that I come across when I’m unpacking. She also leaves me little chocolate bars. I was with the band when I found one of these bars and exclaimed ‘That’s Love Right There’. I wanted to make an authentic sounding ‘swing’ record so I asked these brilliant players, Jamie Salisbury piano, Ralph Salmins drums and Chris Hill bass to play on the record with me.”

‘All Around The World’ (written by Beth Neilson Chapman, Graham Gouldman and Gordon Kennedy)

“I asked Beth to send me her take on the song. I couldn’t top her description. At a time of such upheaval and chaos this song reminds me that all is not lost. It doesn’t hide from the truth of the challenges but it brings it all into perspective and it just fills me with such joy! I loved writing this with two of the great songwriters on this planet! ‘It can only get better’says it all.”

‘It’s Not You It’s Me’ (written by Graham Gouldman)

“This song was originally written for the Yardbirds who approached me to write something for a new album they were hoping to record, but it never got made. Don’t ask. I liked the song not least because it uses the old excuse when you want to break up with someone that ‘It’s Not You It’s Me’.”

‘What Time Won’t Heal’ (written by Graham Gouldman and Bill Lloyd)

“This song was written very quickly like all the good ones do. I had a chord sequence and melody and Bill came up with this great title, he also wrote most of the lyrics. Bill is from Nashville and I think you can hear that influence in the song.”

‘Different Times’ (written by Graham Gouldman, Anna Krantz and Graeme Pleeth)

“I’d written with Anna before and was very happy to work with her again. This song came out of a session we had at Graeme Pleeth’s studio. As well as co-writing the song Graeme wrote a beautiful string arrangement. A song of regret and what might have been.”

‘Wake Up Dreamer’ (written by Graham Gouldman and Iain Hornal)

“I already had a lot of the musical ideas for this, which I shared with Iain, who came up with the title and more musical ideas. We have written together before and one of my favourite co-writes with him is ‘Say The Word’ from his first solo album and a song we perform in our 10cc show. Let’s stop dreaming and wake up to what’s happening to our planet.”

‘Russian Doll’(written by Graham Gouldman and Graeme Pleeth)

“I started this instrumental years ago with the idea that it would make a great movie theme. Maybe it will someday. It was only after I’d overdubbed a mandolin, that sounds like a balalaika, that I came up with the title ‘Russian Doll’. I love its dark, melancholic feel.”

‘Hangin’ By A Thread’ (written by Graham Gouldman and Cassa Jackson)

“We’d already written one song and at the end of the session I started messing around and came up with the start of this. Cassa joined in with what was to become the title and the chorus of ‘Hangin’ By A Thread’.”

‘Waited All My Life For You’ (written by Graham Gouldman and Phil Thornalley)

“Phil discovered the demo of this whilst going through some old files and played it to me. I couldn’t understand why we’d never finished it before but I’m so glad we did. It has a lovely Beatles feel to it. Btw, I first met Phil in 1986 when he produced the first Wax album. We have remained friends and worked together occasionally ever since.”

‘New Star’ (written by Graham Gouldman and Iain Hornal)

“I got the idea for this walking home one day. I heard something being played in the distance on someone’s radio. I couldn’t hear the song very well but I heard the rhythm which I liked. The chords came into my head immediately. I originally wanted to repeat the verse chords for the whole of the song using different melodies but it just didn’t work, so I asked Iain to help me finish it adding new parts. I lost my mum in 2019 and the first line of the song, ‘There’s a new star up in heaven’, refers to her.”

Stream or download here

Connect with Graham Gouldman

The Mezcaltones Feature Album Mexican Hillbilly Surf Music

February 21, 2020 Leave a comment

The Mezcaltones Mexican Hillbilly Surf Music
The band’s third album finds them at the top of their game with brilliantly written and played originals along with a tasteful selection of covers lifted from their live set. Recorded and mixed in just over a week at Damien Gerard’s new expanded studios on the Central Coast, the album stands as their most cohesively accessible and sonically pleasing to date.

Only released last Friday to coincide with the launch on Sydney’s Northern Beaches to their home crowd, the Album is already garnering reviews such as:
“The third album from the enigmatic Mezcaltones is cranking, feelgood drinking music that crawls into your boots and drags you to the dance floor of any number of dusty roadside Mexican Saloons.” Redback Rock
“The good, the bad, the groovy, playing all things cool with a Tarantino and strong Mexican flavour. Blog

The band have also been invited to co host Ross Fear’s influential Australian Spectrum show this Tuesday March 3.

The band will be playing over the next few weeks to promote the record, see dates below.

And now to the band – Just what is it about the Mezcaltones –
Four guys dressed as cowboys and two women dressed like Spanish Mexican Senoritas that you might find in a Quentin Tarantino movie – two guitarists, a bassist, a drummer, a crazy front man and a beautiful dancer/percussionist. Whilst their original songs have an alt country flavour with rich cowboy guitar sounds reminiscent of another century, the guitar tones also reach into the realms of 60’s surf instrumentals.

See them live at

Album – Out Now – Foghorn/MGM
CD on sale at Shows
Click below for DSP’s

Connect with The Mezcaltones:

For further information please contact:
Marshall Cullen at Foghorn Media
0416 143 030
marshall@foghornrecords.net

STEVE KILBEY AND GARETH KOCH NEW ALBUM CHRYSE PLANITIA

February 3, 2020 Leave a comment

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What unites the musical spheres of an Australian rock icon and a Viennese-trained classical musician?

The answer lies in a shared aesthetic and approach to their craft. There is a wistful and haunting lilt to the Kilbey/Koch songs, as they float seamlessly through a narrative of fallen crowns, fatal hours, and enchanted gardens. To complement the poignant lyrics is delicious instrumentation, weaving and wafting, ghostly and waif-like, alternately brimming with rhythmic drive, present yet somehow elusive.

Hot on the heels of two critically acclaimed singles, the debut album Chryse Planitiapulses with a strong and immediately recognisable musical identity. Kilbey and Koch have forged an entirely new sound characterised by a fluid and elegant movement across genres. Their partnership draws inspiration from medieval music to post-modern psychedelia, as if it were the most natural thing in the world, with every imaginable influence in between.

(photo credit: Tony Mott)

Steve Kilbey, also known as the frontman of veteran rock band The Church, has generated a lifetime of beautifully crafted songs. His subtly esoteric lyrics create an aura of mystery, posing questions and teasing the listener with riddle-like answers. Kilbey’s words evoke a succession of images, half-remembered whisperings at the edge of our consciousness. He is a poet-master of unsaid things whose writing arouses the dreamer within us.

Gareth Koch is a European-born classical guitarist and composer who has recorded most of the major repertoire. His compositional style reflects a lifelong engagement with classical, folk and flamenco music. Although not easy to define, Koch’s music is often characterised by medieval gestures, influenced by the unrequited longing style of the French Trouveres (singer-poets) of the 12^thcentury.

Expertly mixed by Russell Pilling of Damien Gerard Studios and superbly mastered by Grammy Award-winning King Willy Sound, Chryse Planitia is a feast for the ears.

Release Dates February 7 (Foghorn/MGM) Digital Platforms and CD Instore, April/May Vinyl LP

Connect with Steve Kilbey:

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Nick De La Hoyde – A Beautiful Mess Debut Album

January 31, 2020 Leave a comment

Soundslikecafe is proud to present this brilliant young aussie kicking goals both here and overseas with his modern positive sounding tunes and lyrics –

Growingup in a multi-cultural home with a Syrian mother and British father, Sydney based, singer songwriter Nick de la Hoyde was exposed to many global influences that he now weaves into his music. Melding his love of hip hop, pop and R&B with introspective lyrics that chronicles a young musician’s journey to adulthood, overcoming life and artistic challenges along the path, Nick and his long-time producer/collaborator/older brother Joseph (ZUZU) de la Hoyde, have together crafted a sound that is simultaneously intimate, expansive and engaging. Having penned confessional, real life anthems, such as High,Ghost, Animals, California,Mirror Mirror, Hold Me Close, and Love Takes Time,that oscillate between moody, textured R&B, anthemic synth laden future-pop and hip hop, combined with a lyrical earnestness that speaks directly to today’s younger generation. Nick has quickly made a name for himself, cultivating a large and dedicated on-line following and is establishing himself a powerful voice for self empowerment and positivity.

Check it out NOW !!

Connect with Nick

Official Site

Eldafyre New Album RAW

January 19, 2020 Leave a comment

Introducing Eldafyre and his new album RAW, our latest feature artist and album on Soundslikecafe

‘Eldafyre’is a stylist acoustic poet. Sending out euphoric melancholia infused with the deep passion of love, from all things. Eldafyre grew up in Shepparton and now resides within the northern rivers of NSW or deep in the mountains near Melbourne. With four mastered studio albums we see a vast range of genres. The one you have in your hands was 3 years in the making. Eldafyre wrote every song in one evening. Recreating the same lyrical stories to a dark jazz smokey noir band. Hand selected and collaborated with some of the best session musicians available in Australia. After three years absorbing the creation, a remix was made with an intention to finalize the work of art. Filtered organically with all ego and unwanted material omitted. With influences from Patti Smith, Rodriguez and Melanie Safka. Eldafyre thinks of himself as a storyteller. Telling this story as a studio musician.

Eldafyre on his music and live performance – “Expect music therapy. Expect to be relaxed. Expect to forget about your worries. Most report a deep sense of healing and restoration after my performances.”

We think you will be impressed with this record too, and its just the first of more to come from this exciting new artist…

The RAW album has been described as “DARK JAZZ SMOKEY NOIR”

The Tracklist includes

1- welcome around

2- another wholesome night

3 the evening came together

4 where connection bonds-(checkout the feature video below)

5- what lies down

6 long pause

7 a last goodbye

Check it out now-

Sydney’s blues-rock-rockabilly act Toadvine release new EP

October 25, 2019 Leave a comment

Toadvine are a five-piece blues-rock outfit hailing from Sydney, Australia, who dish up a unique blend of blues-tinged rock’n’roll with generous lashings of rockabilly, country and fuzzed-out garage sounds. Their new five-track EP is called Love Is A Dangerous Game.

The five track EP Love Is A Dangerous Game is set for release on 25 October 2019.

TRACK BY TRACK:

Stones and Bones – The EP opener is a rip snorting bluesy garage rock tale about love gone wrong and revenge, featuring a blues harp solo courtesy of Celia Curtis.

Dead Man’s Clothes – cool country Johnny Cash vibe

Dirty Lies – garage rock with a peppering of country roots

More Than Anyone – fun bar-room classic about boy meets girl

Black Naomi – a blues tinged rockabilly sound with the swagger of the Stray Cats

Toadvine will launch the EP at Moshpit Bar, 642A King Street, Newtown on Saturday November 9.

Download or stream from October 25:

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Adam Jones Releases Third Album ‘The Dark Side Of The Earth’

September 26, 2019 Leave a comment

Melbourne folk-rock, alt-country and blues singer/songwriter/musician Adam Jones releases his third album The Dark Side Of The Earth on 27 September 2019.

Adam released an album of 12 diverse songs in 2017 called ‘Little Death’, and then an acoustic version of that album a year later. His catchy and interesting songs traverse many styles such as folk-rock, blues, alt-country and Australiana.

In November 2018 Adam started recording some new material at a local studio in Flowerdale, Victoria and those sessions finally wrapped up at the end of August. Two early singles from these sessions – ‘Cupid’ and ‘Shining Car’ – were well-received by radio, social media and local fans.

Adam explains his inspiration for the album title. “I wrote a song called The Dark Side of The Earth, protesting about, and expressing my sadness, with regard to how cruel humans can be. Later when it came to planning the album, I thought that it would make a great album title, especially as my favourite album of all time is Pink Floyd’s The Dark Side of The Moon! All songs on the album relate somehow to what I call ‘the dark side of humanity!”

Folk-rock album opener No Insurance examines risk in personal relationships, Knots in Our Hair is musically a nod to country artist John Prine whilst lyrically reflecting on the love, freedom and happiness that a relationship can provide.
The title track acts as a socio-political protest song, which Jones hopes will encourage listeners to “get up and make a real difference.”

Adam has been a serious music fan since he was very young. “My older brother left home when I was 10 and left behind his vinyl collection, my favourites including The Beatles, Neil Young and Led Zeppelin. I remember the first CD I bought was Dire Straits Brothers In Arms when CDs had only just become available in Australia. I loved the rock, blues and sweet melodies of Dire Straits music. Other early influences were some of the classics of 60’s and 70’s rock and folk, like Bob Dylan, Supertramp, Fleetwood Mac, Pink Floyd and Deep Purple. More recent music that inspires Adam are Manchester Orchestra and Kevin Devine “for their creativity and musicality.”

Although music has been a huge part of his life since then, it’s only in the last couple of years that he’s put some serious energy into his music. “I’ve been singing, writing songs, playing guitar, a bit of keyboard and percussion since I was a child. I decided to become a serious recording and performing artist late in life after a long-term relationship broke down in early 2017.”

Adam is an extremely prolific songwriter. “I write a lot, up to 150 songs per year – complete as far as lyrics and basic guitar parts go,” he explains. “I usually write the lyrics first and then straight away put some music to them and then finish the song and decide on the structure, rhythm, tempo, etc. Having time alone to sit and focus on my thoughts, experiences and feelings usually leads to me being creative. Sometimes I plan to write a particular song, others are very spontaneous. I try and change up what I write about a lot so that there is plenty of variety in my songs.”

Adam Jones – The Dark Side Of The Earth is out September 20 through Foghorn Records / MGM Distribution.

Download or stream:

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The Blind Pilots release debut 3-track EP

August 29, 2019 Leave a comment

New on the soundslikecafe playlist this month is a track called Tell Me I’m Wrong, courtesy of an electrifying blues rock outfit from Sydney called The Blind Pilots.

When describing this band, it’s easy to say the same old things about being an explosive four piece Australian Roots, Rock and Blues outfit from the Northern Beaches. But the truth is all four members have known each other in previous successful bands, which gives them an advantage in the creative songwriting process. The four friends share a close rapport and have a laugh together every week. They say, “There’s never a dull moment in rehearsals!”

The band members’ camaraderie is largely based on the fact they grew up listening to the same music and share common influences like Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, Van Morrison, Jimmy Hendrix, Cat Stevens, Led Zepplin and Midnight Oil. Together they form a band making the most of dirty slide guitar, hard hitting drums, solid bass grooves, accompanied by a soulful vocal drenched in foot stompin’ harmonica riffs. “We all have an urge to push each other harder to get the best out of our muscianship and are driven to create those magic moments,” says lead guitarist and vocalist Owen.

In a live format, the band produce an energetic show full of intense commitment, whilst still maintaining a laid back vibe.

The lead track of their brand new EP is called Tell Me I’m Wrong, which offers frontman Owen’s perspective on the current political landscape. Accompanying tracks are Telephone – a hard-hitting blues rock tune about breakdowns in relationships, complete with dirty blues harp and riffing electric guitar. The swampy southern blues rock style of Howling at the Moon fits perfectly with the lyrical lament about longing and yearning.

Between them, their experiences have seen them performing at festivals including Byron Blues, Woodford Folk, Festival Of Sun, Echuca Blues Festival, Mud Run, Harley Days, Throttle Roll, Sydney Blues Festival and has found them on the Australian Blues charts. With new ideas consistently being brought to the table this group will continue to make inroads in the Blues and Roots World and be one to watch.

The Blind Pilots members are: Owen Mancell – Guitar/Vocals; Matt Hough – Drums; Ryan Stone – Harmonica; Daniel Changas – Bass/Vocals

“Owen brings the spark, Matt is the conductor and reconstructs, Changas adds the bottom end whilst Stony waves the magic which is the icing on the cake.”

The Blind Pilots EP is out on August 30.

Tell Me I’m Wrong is on the soundslikecafe playlist now.

Download or stream from August 30:

Connect with The Blind Pilots here:

Apsara – Galatea EP

August 20, 2019 Leave a comment

Apsara is an original project of classical soprano Michaele Archer, exploring a sound palate that is rich and raw. Composed with Latin text from Virgil and Roman woman poet Sulpicia, Apsara’s debut EP Galatea intertwines ancient and new sounds.

Leading the Apsara project on harmonium and vocals, Archer is joined by cellist Rachel Whealy, violist Gabrielle Laura Steele and guitarist Giuseppe Zangari.

It been a journey bringing together the different layers for this project – Ancient Latin text, alto instruments and a vocal approach that blends opera and early music. “Once I had it the music came quickly. The songs almost wrote themselves. They came so fast in a matter of minutes recording on my phone.”

In addition to medieval vocals, ancient Latin text and deep analogue instruments, the flow of water and nature inspires Apsara. In Virgil’s Eclogue 7 there are references to Galatea, a water sprite and the name Apsara also translates as Indian water spirit.

Michaele has performed opera, song and oratorio in Australia and internationally and has featured in several world premieres of new works by Australian composers.

“Coming from an opera background and having a larger voice type my sound has always been full on opera”. Michaele has recently been performing and studying in Los Angeles with Robin de Haas, a leading voice coach in Europe and founder of a new performance and body work method called Breathing Coordination. Going ever deeper into anatomy and the science of breathing led Michaele to a new vocal style, blending Opera into medieval straight tone.

Discovering the poetry of Roman woman poet Sulpicia struck a deep chord. “The portrayal of women in opera is often two dimensional and I wanted to depart from that,” says Archer. Sulpicia was a woman who lived outside the stereotypes of Ancient Roman society in terms of being unmarried, writing poetry and writing explicitly about love. The feel and sound qualities of old Latin text and stories interpreted from a female perspective form a rich layer, built with instruments from the deeper harmonic spectrum.

“I’ve got a thing for the darker sounding instruments so combining the tone of the viola with cello and alto harmonium was a perfect fit.”

Cellist Rachel Whealy has been a muse since high school. The pair met in Year 12 Music class, where Michaele fell in love with Rachel’s playing and the mellow sob of the cello. There were quite a few maths lessons skipped to play Purcell on Balmoral Island with the waves. They have been performing, writing and recording together ever since. “We’ve created some beautiful original recordings, but I kept putting them aside. I hadn’t quite cracked the feel of the sound I knew I was looking for. I wanted to move slightly left of opera with an instrumental foundation that was real and textured.”

APSARA – GALATEA will be released on August 23 through MGM.

Download or stream from August 23:

Connect with Michaele:

REBECCA DANIEL AND FIONA JOY HAWKINS – THE LIGHTNESS OF DARK

August 2, 2019 Leave a comment

REBECCA DANIEL AND FIONA JOY HAWKINS JOIN FORCES TO CREATE THE LIGHTNESS OF DARK –A POWERFUL MUSICAL EXPLORATION OF LOSS, MOURNING AND FINDING BEAUTY AMIDST LIFE’S SADNESS

Blending New Age and Contemporary Classical Crossover Music, Daniel (Violin/Voice/Piano) and Hawkins (Piano/Voice) Will Be Supporting Their Cathartic and Healing 11 Track Album With A Tour in Fall 2019

Leonard Cohen once said, “There is a crack in everything, that’s how the light gets in.”

Australian instrumentalists Rebecca Daniel and Fiona Joy Hawkins place this insight on the back cover of The Lightness of Dark to illuminate their creative and spiritual vision behind the project –their first dual album after many years of live and studio collaborations. The two explore the many facets of life and loss, the search for something positive in the crippling shadows and the potential beauty that can emerge from mourning and sadness

The Lightness of Dark weaves its lush, cathartic narrative via music with varying instrumentation depending on the emotions the two are expressing. The opening track “Heavenly Voices” blends string quartet (featuring The Kanimbla Quartet)with organ, piano and vocals. Other tracks feature solo piano (“Ghosts, Insanity, Angels”), piano/violin duet (“Elegy”), piano with quartet pads (“Lake of Contemplation”), string quartet only (“Interwoven Threads of Chance”), string quartet featuring piano (“Empty Moments”) and other combinations uniquely fitted for the compositions they imbue.

“We believe our album will connect with everyone because we all experience loss in varying forms,” Fiona says. “It can be the loss of youth, a loved one, a pet, your health…Life changing events where we are left to mourn because of loss. People only face their own issues when you lead them to a safe place to do this.”

Rebecca and Fiona have enjoyed a long history of collaborations and are looking forward to working with renowned Australian Producer Llew Kiek. They have performed over 50 concerts together including at the Sydney Opera House for the 2012 MusicOz Awards, New Orleans for 2014 ZMR Awardsand 2017 Sydney Women’s International Jazz Festival-and Rebecca has appeared on nearly every one of Fiona’s solo albums. The two have played together as part of Fiona’s Blue Dream Ensemble, and Rebecca produced the group’s album Live at the Q.

Rebecca Daniel studied violin and chamber music with Emanuel Hurwitz and the Amadeus String Quartet at The Royal Academy of Music. She worked withTrevor Pinnock and Simon Standage, and The Australian Chamber Orchestra, and was Orchestra Leader for Les Misérables, Phantom of the Opera, The Sound of Music and Beauty and the Beast. She has recorded and performed with, John Denver, Bread, James Galway and the Chieftains, Will Ackerman, Shirley Bassey, Barbra Streisand, Men at Work and INXS.

Fiona Joy Hawkins, a Conservatorium-trained pianist, renowned for her romantic, melodic songs and lush arrangements, is a prolific composer who regularly tours China and the USA and is also a member of the Contemporary instrumental group FLOW (Fiona Joy, Lawrence Blatt, Jeff Oster, Will Ackerman). Fiona’s song “Grace’ is on a 2014 Grammy Winning album, and in 2016 she won two Independent Music Awards at the Lincoln Centre in New York. She has several Best Piano Album ZMR Awards and has worked with Producer Will Ackerman (Founder Windham Hill Records and Cookie Marenco (Blue Coast Records) for hi-resolution audiophile recordings.

Soundslikecafe is proud to feature this brilliant album and the leading single Elegy appears on the July Playlist.

Checkout the entire album here

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