Steve Kilbey And Gareth Koch Join Forces For ‘Broken Toys’
"Steve Kilbey And Gareth Koch Join Forces For ‘Broken Toys’"
What happens when the musical worlds of Australian Music icon Steve Kilbey & classically trained ARIA Award winner Gareth Koch collide?
The answer lies in their new single Broken Toys – a refined and confident title brimming with sensitivity, experience and fresh ideas.
It’s not easy to describe a fascinating and unexpected collaboration such as this one. Steve Kilbey is perhaps best known as frontman of veteran rock band The Church. Gareth Koch on the other hand is a Viennese-trained classical guitarist/composer.
(photo credit: Tony Mott)
The Kilbey/Koch musical arrangements are acoustic and highly sophisticated. ‘Classical’ is one way of describing the sound. But it is much more than that. Kilbey is a self-confessed classicist, so the pairing is actually spot on. Kilbey & Koch have roughly 1000 years of music history bubbling away in their consciousness, and coupled with this knowledge is a keen awareness of contemporary sensibilities.
Sparkling effervescent textures, percussion by veteran stickman Barton Price (of Models fame), dobros, classical and 12-string guitars and even a 1966 ‘Beatle Bass’ all combine to create a unique and original soundscape.
Their eclectic partnership draws inspiration from medieval music to post-modern psychedelia, with every imaginable influence in between. These experienced musicians have created a strong and immediately recognisable musical identity, a new sound and aesthetic that comes with a fluid movement across genres. The result is a unique blend of classical & pop sensibilities with lyrics poised for repeated listening.
Expertly mixed by Russell Pilling at Damien Gerard Studios Sydney and superbly mastered by Grammy Award winning King Willy Sound, Broken Toys is a feast for the ears.
To download, stream or connect:
Fiona Joy (Hawkins) – New Single – Grace Chill Remix – Out Now
"Fiona Joy (Hawkins) – New Single – Grace Chill Remix – Out Now"
Fiona Joy (Hawkins) – New Single – Grace Chill Remix – Out Now
Soundslikecafe is proud to feature this International Tune on the new September 2018 playlist
“I originally wrote Grace as a piano instrumental and it ended up on a Grammy winning album in 2014. I wanted to add words and record my own singer/songwriter version as I really connected with the message in the song “To be with Grace, To live with Grace, Always with Grace’. A slower acoustic recording was followed by a chill mix which featured on the first Say Yes To Love album in support of marriage equality. This current remix of Grace is punchier Dream-Pop.
The track features Tony Levin (Peter Gabriel) playing NS Bass, Marc Shulman (Jewel & Suzanne Vega) playing Electric guitar with a little Beat-Box by my son Nick Hawkins.
The song has genre hopped from World to New Age to Pop and it’s been covered by a number of other artists including Flutist Sherry Finzer and Grammy winners Ricky Kej and Wouter Kellerman.
Connect with Fiona:
Website
Facebook
Annoyed by Restaurant Playlists, a Master Musician Made His Own
"Annoyed by Restaurant Playlists, a Master Musician Made His Own"
From NY Times –
by Ben Ratliff
Last Autumn a friend told me a story about Ryuichi Sakamoto, the
renowned musician and composer who now lives in West Village, New
York. Mr. Sakamoto, it seems, so likes a particular Japanese
restaurant in Murray Hill, and visits it so often, he finally had to be
straight with the chef: He could not bear the music it played for its
patrons. The issue was not so much that the music was loud, but that
it was thoughtless. Mr. Sakamoto suggested he could take over the
job of choosing it, without pay, if only so he could feel more
comfortable eating there. The chef agreed, and so Mr. Sakamoto
started making playlists for the restaurant, none of which include any
of his own music. Few people knew about this, because Mr. Sakamoto
has no particular desire to publicise it. It took me a few weeks to
appreciate how radical the story was, if indeed it was true. I consider
thoughtless music in restaurants a problem that has gotten worse over
the years, even since the advent of the music-streaming services,
which – you’d think – should have made it better. If I’m going to spend
decent money on a meal, I don’t want the reservation-taker, the dishwasher or someone from the back office to be cooking it; I want someone who is very good at cooking food to do it. The same should apply to the music, which after all will be playing before, during and after the eating. I would prefer that music not seem an afterthought, or the result of algorithmic computation. I want it chosen by a person who knows music up and down and sideways: its context, its dynamism and its historical and aural clichés.
Fiona Joy Hawkins – New Album – Story of Ghosts
"Fiona Joy Hawkins – New Album – Story of Ghosts"
Fiona Joy Hawkins – New Album – Story of Ghosts
Fiona Joy Hawkins – A name that resonates in acoustic music circles as one of this generation’s top contemporary solo piano artists. Having won many awards for her two previous solo piano albums, Fiona is destined to do the same with Story of Ghosts.
Fiona’s third solo piano album takes her fans on an introspective journey reflecting the past year of her life as she deals with its twists and turns (as we all do). The music is provocative and hauntingly beautiful.
“It’s much more classical and very connected to my roots” says Fiona of this new album. “There’s a lot of emotion in it; that part was challenging. But when I get feedback from my audience saying that I’m touching their lives, and in some way making a difference, that makes it worthwhile.”
Fiona has recorded for only two labels, her own Little Hartley Music for standard recordings, and Blue Coast Records – known for its high quality audio file recordings. Working with producer Cookie Marenco.
“Even CD quality is unsatisfying when you’ve heard DSD or SACD, especially when played on a high-end system” says Fiona.
The release in June 2018 marks the official launch date, the album is now available in high resolution down-load and on streaming channels.
Track list
1. Song for Dunnie [3:35]
2. Story of Angels [4:48]
3. Contemplating (Solo) [5:31]
4. Blue Dream (Solo) [3:12]
5. The Solo Tango [5:11]
6. The White Light [3:35]
7. Story of Ghosts [3:27]
8. Twilight [3:41]
9. Story of Insanity [2:52]
10. Before the Light [5:31]
Rachel LaFond – New Album – Encounters of the Beautiful Kind
"Rachel LaFond – New Album – Encounters of the Beautiful Kind"
Rachel LaFond – New Album – Encounters of the Beautiful Kind
Come along on a powerful musical journey inspired by Rachel LaFond’s experience, of being a stranger in a new country. New Zealand to be precise where she now calls home.
This beautiful solo Piano Album was recorded in high resolution audio at her home and mastered by the golden ears of Mike Bloemendahl.
The music explores universal human experiences: feelings of loneliness, worries about not being good enough, and the evolution we undergo as existing friendships change or fade while new connections spring to life.
This journey culminates in the realisation that as we bear each other up and connect with one another, we make the world a more beautiful place for all of us.
About Rachel LaFond:
Rachel LaFond is an American composer and pianist who has been steeped in musicality her entire life. Her appreciation of the piano began when she was a toddler as her mother (a piano teacher) played with a young Rachel on her lap. She began formal lessons at age five, and by the time Rachel was eleven, she began teaching lessons herself. She lived in Vienna and studied piano performance there as a teenager, then returned home to major in piano at the University of Washington. After university, she continued to teach and perform professionally, but for years Rachel didn’t realise she had a talent for writing music hidden inside herself until David.
David she had met just weeks ago. Rachel couldn’t stop thinking about him on one rainy autumn afternoon, everything changed. Gazing out the window of her teaching studio, Distraction transformed into inspiration, and by the end of that evening she had finished her first original piece, Loving in the Rain. This first piece stood alone for a while as Rachel got swept up in life’s adventures: Rachel and David got married, quit their jobs, and embarked on a year of long-term travel around the world.
Rachel’s music is inspired by, and engages with, the full depth of human experience. Whether she’s capturing the heady wooziness of falling in love or responding to the chest-cracking pain of Barcelonans who suffered in the terror attack of summer 2017, her pieces are unflinching and compel the listener to lean into the feeling of the song for just a moment more. Rachel’s drive to bring beauty, light, and kindness to dark places through her music lends a striking sense of purpose to her creative work. And she’s just getting started.
Encounters of the Beautiful Kind, Track Listing;
1. Luminous; 5:30
2. Your Beauty Calls Me; 5:00
3. Heart Full Of Memories; 4:24
4. Tears For Catalunya; 4:31
5. You Will Conquer This Shadow; 4:32
6. Love’s Labour’s Never Lost; 5:08
7. The Questions Your Heart Asks; 4:59
8. Don’t Cry, Calvin; 2:46
9. Unrestrained Joy; 3:40
10. Shout To The Sun; 3:27
11. A Knight’s Journey; 3:22
Encounters of the Beautiful Kind Reviews:
Mainly Piano review by Kathy Parsons:
“Encounters of the Beautiful Kind begins with “Luminous,” a piece that starts out in a quietly reflective mood and gradually builds in intensity and passion, peaking and then becoming more subdued to the end – a great opener!”
https://mainlypiano.com/reviews/rachel-lafond-encounters-of-the-beautiful-kind
Contemporary Fusion Reviews By Dick Metcalf:
“Rachel’s expressive and bold approach to the keyboard wins her high marks from me again… songs like the opener, “Luminous“, will raise your spirit to new heights.”
All recorded in Auckland, New Zealand in Rachel’s home.
Mastering by Mike Bloemendahl
Connect and listen to Rachel LaFond:
Andy Iorio -New Album II
"Andy Iorio -New Album II"
Following his successful ‘After The Rain’ Album Andy Iorio is back with this masterful Classical Crossover Piano Work.
Heres what folks had to say plus a little about Andy Himself
Hear the album in a cafe near you from October onwards-
Track List
Listen or Buy Now
For further information
Tania De Jong – Australian Soprano – New Album – Flying Free
"Tania De Jong – Australian Soprano – New Album – Flying Free"
Flying Free is a classical crossover recording bringing together the angelic voice of soprano Tania de Jong with the virtuosic genius of pianist, composer and arranger Anthony Barnhill. Also appearing on the album is one of Australia’s most acclaimed violinists Zoe Black and baritone Jonathan Morton. The album has been recorded with some of Australia’s leading musicians.
The album includes originals Flying Free and The Everlasting Light with compositions by Barnhill and lyrics by de Jong. There are also reinventions of some gorgeous standards including Shenandoah and Danny Boy and sacred songs including two versions of Ave Maria, Panis Angelicus and the Yiddish prayer Avinu Malkeinu. This incantation seeks compassion and peace and an end to war and famine, hate and oppression. Very timely in a world that is ever more divided.
The recording features the work of Schubert, Handel, Caccini, Dvorak, Lehar, Korngold and Gershwin though not always in the way you may expect. There is a divine and timeless nature to these incredible works and Barnhill has created some magical re-inventions.
The songs speak of love, compassion, hope, peace and light, which are very relevant to Tania’s inspirational work as Founder of Creativity Australia’s With One Voice. These innovative programs use the neuro-scientific benefits of singing and bring the fortunate and the marginalised together as ONE community to reduce growing inequality and create a sense of ‘WE’ rather than the current ‘us and them’ environment.
FLYING FREE RELEASE DETAILS
Official Worldwide Release Date Flying Free Single July 21(MGM) Digital Only
Flying Free Album Release September 1 (MGM) CD and Digital(14 tracks)
Flying Free
Tracklist
- Flying Free [4:50]
- Shenandoah [4:16]
- Avinu Malkeinu [3:46]
- Ave Maria [4:17]
- Panis Angelicus [3:22]
- Ombra mai fu [2:46]
- Ave Maria [4:17]
- Song to the Moon [4:38]
- Danny Boy [4:38]
- Summertime [2:45]
- La vie en rose [3:53]
- Vilja Lied [3:07]
Plus Bonus tracks- 13. Glück das mir verblieb [4:42]
14. Everlasting Light [4:25]
-Social media links
https://twitter.com/TaniadeJong
https://www.facebook.com/taniadejongam
-Official site
http://www.taniadejong.com
YouTube channel
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCo1xm_Sdslk7MytjEHO73Q
