STEVE KILBEY AND GARETH KOCH NEW ALBUM SONGS FROM ANOTHER LIFE: MUSIC OF ANTIQUITY

May 29, 2020 Leave a comment

Soundslikecafe is very proud to present this exceptional, spacious, fresh and different album from two of Australia’s most interesting ARIA Award winning artists joining together once again ……

Songs from Another Life (Music of Antiquity) is the second collaborative album by Steve Kilbey and Gareth Koch. It follows their successful debut Chryse Planitia earlier this year.

These two artisans have produced a unique musical creation – an esoteric masterpiece which is difficult to define. It is an entirely new body of work, evoking a living connection to the past which resonates with us all.

It is tantalising to reflect on how music of the ‘ancients’ might have sounded. Our clues lie in the iconography and artistic representations of the pre-Christian era, and within specific types of folk music which have a living tradition. This continuum provides a valuable framework for the attempt at reconstructing ancient music. Indian folk music and flamenco for example create an interesting template, since both these traditions merged and are further coloured by the Moorish invasions of Andalucia.

It is significant therefore that the earliest form of notation was created in Babylonia, probably in about 1400BC. The instructions are fragmentary, but the cuneiform tablets suggest that the music was composed using scales, harmonies and gestures not altogether unfamiliar to today’s listener.

In Steve’s words on the liner notes to the LP he says:

“Working with language scholars and local musicians, we have attempted to bring these ancient songs alive. They have rendered the songs in a manner that is comprehensible to the modern listener. The songs and recordings represent the thoughts and sounds of a distant antiquity. Here then is the past – and now the past is here.”

Stream it here

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Julie-Anne Marshall Releases Dream Pop Single Crossfire

May 23, 2020 Leave a comment

Soundslikecafe is proud to feature the new single from Julie-Anne Marshall “Crossfire” –

Julie-Anne’s latest song release ‘Crossfire’ has her stepping into the dream pop genre. With her vocals taking on a whisper pop vibe in this song, she still remains true to her lyric driven evocative songwriting style. This diverse songwriter is showing that not only can she write across genre’s but her vocals are more than able to traverse the genre divide.

Hailing from Adelaide, Julie-Anne Marshall is an independent singer-songwriter who is not limited by musical boundaries – soft rock, easy listening with some jazz, roots and blues and a bit of folk and pop.

Julie-Anne independently released her first album “Bluebird” in 2016 with follow up singles “The Dawn” and “Memory”.

For Julie-Anne the song leads the way and songwriting is the sole reason she performed with bands around Adelaide working on her performing and song writing skills. Piano is her instrument and her vocal style is earthy yet ethereal, with songs that are lyric driven, melodic and wistful yet wishful.

Stream Now

Connect With Julie-Anne

Jessie-May Kitchen Debut EP Zone Out

May 22, 2020 Leave a comment

Here we present a fantastic new young artist – Jessie May Kitchen

Jessie-May was born in Hobart and grew up on the NSW Central Coast. She started writing songs at five and Performing Arts became her escape from a tough family life.

The debut EP Zone Out follows her successful singles and videos-
Teen Love, Coffee Shop and Star Child from 2018-2019(see YT link below)

Have you ever been so deep in thought that the world disappears and suddenly you are detached from the physical plane, and all you know is what you are thinking about? Like a switch has been flicked and the real world just isn’t there anymore. Most people say they do occasionally or brag that they scandalously day dream whilst doing chores and leave their body on autopilot for a little while.

Ever since I can remember, I have been switching back and forth from this world to my own, I just Zone Out. It’s an integral part of who I am. Zoning out has brought me so many brilliant ideas, inspirations and creations to my life.

There are many different ways to be smart and tuning out reality, tapping into your imagination is a skilled, worthwhile cleverness. I wanted to use this EP to bring my world to you. My stories, thoughts and philosophies in every song, courtesy of tuning out the rest of the world and tapping into my own.

So, give it a go! Find a safe place of your own, listen to the music, let your imagination run wild and Zone Out.

[photo by Tony Mott]

Track Descriptions:
Blue Skies
Along with the video Jessie’s new single features a lyrical story of optimism and happiness, overlaying a hybrid acoustic and keyboard driven rhythm track.

Calm In The Eye Of The Storm
Some more great messages in Jessie’s lyrics – “it’s all lies within your perception of your own reality – you either choose defeat or to be calm amidst the chaos.” With a more uptempo and guitar driven backing track, along with a catchy keys melody – another great track.

Head In The Clouds
A note to her younger self, this song features similar production values to the rest of the EP, lush keyboards, full guitars, solid beats and hooky melodies.

Jessie May Kitchen – Zone Out is out NOW through Foghorn Records / MGM Distribution.

Download or stream:

Connect with Jessie May Kitchen:

For further information, Cd’s and Interview requests please contact:
Marshall Cullen at Foghorn Media
0416 143 030
marshall@foghornrecords.net

Kaijin Solo New EP Universal Love

May 15, 2020 Leave a comment

Kaijin Solo is a contemporary singer/songwriter based on the NSW Central Coast with a blues rock influence.

Universal Love is an experiment in letting other people find their way into his music.
The idea came about from jamming original songs live with a host of different people on the local open mike circuit. The result is an electric mix of ideas that provides a solid rocking sound-scope for the lyrics.

Mark Cashin and Jake Hunt from The Little Hussies were the collaborators this time round, with Russell Pilling at Damien Gerard Studios engineering. The combination of talent without prima donna egos made the sessions into a fun day with a fantastic output and every song grew in dimension.
The EP was Mastered by Andrew Beck.

Universal Love – “When we can think, speak and act the way we want to be treated ourselves, the power of love will exceed the love of power and the world will know peace.” Is what Universal Love is about, it was inspired by a quote from Jimi Hendrix “When the power of love exceeds the love of power the world will know peace.

Into the Dream was written the morning after a Ryan Adams concert, thinking about how much things has changed since the beginning of the century.

The Republic is a tribute to the people and their achievements, and a wake up to call to Canberra to get on with it.

Spirit on the Wind is an ode to the Spirit of Freedom.

Like Sunshine is a love song to music itself.

Stream from your favourite service:

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SLC May Playlist Additions

May 11, 2020 Leave a comment

Our May Playlist Additions include some varied tunes from new releases to keep you chilled during these strange times. We hope you enjoy, just click the images to listen to individual tracks or the actual playlist.

SLC Digital Expresso Playlist

The songs are;

Code Blue by Gareth Koch(from the EP)

This is jaunty & upbeat featuring full band backing, Koch’s Aria Award Winning signature guitar and tongue-in-cheek lyrics, but there are clues to an underlying seriousness.

Crossfire by Julie-Anne Marshall (from the new single)

Dancin’ by The Mezcaltones(from the album Hillbilly Surf Rock Music)

A song who’s vintage tones and grooves lends itself to a time when lyrics had to be subtle but you still get the meaning. Another killer radio friendly tune from whats shaping up to be the bands best album yet.

Mirror of Love by Tim Walker(from the album Bridge of Angels)

Tim’s songwriting has truly come of age on this album and theres just so may good songs – this is another uptempo, hooky, and fun tune which even features an old school ragtime piano break.

Prayer for Rain by Fiona Joy Hawkins and Rebecca Daniel (from the single)

Impressionistic neo-classical piano with ethereal layered vocals featuring vocals from both of the girls. The alto from Fiona and Rebecca is the Soprano. All proceeds from this song go to bushfire affected wildlife via the Billabong Zoo Koala Hospital.

The Fatal Hour by Steve Kilbey and Gareth Koch (from the album Chryse Planitia)

Another deep and vibrant tune from this acclaimed album.

A much more laid back tune showing the other possibilities on the album this song starts with only guitar and voice, drawing the listener into the Kilbey/Koch world. When the drums and bass do kick in the whole thing moves up a notch and theres some great choral ear candy featured as well.

Wonders To Behold by Throwing Shapes(from the EP Tranquility Base)

The second playlist addition for this prolific WA Electronica Act. This tune will keep your interest and feet tapping throughout.

Gareth Koch-New EP Code Blue

May 8, 2020 Leave a comment

Proudly featuring this one on SLC for your listening pleasure

“How does an artwork or song come into being and take form where once nothing existed?

The answer has layers of complexity, and varies from artist to artist, but there are partial explanations. Usually there is some type of catalyst, a half-remembered whisper, idea or a musical phrase which forms a point of creative departure. Sometimes though, an actual event might spark inspiration.”

The song Code Blue is jaunty & upbeat with tongue-in-cheek lyrics, but these provide clues to an underlying seriousness:

‘code blue runnin outa time,…show a vital sign,… in emergency ICU…o honey i’d die for you….’

A ‘code blue’ is a hospital crisis situation in which the patient is in cardiopulmonary arrest, requiring a team to rush to the specific location and begin rescue efforts.
The narrative of the song draws on a sudden medical emergency in which Gareth was saved by the skill of medical staff.

Both the song Code Blue and EP are dedicated with love and gratitude to the wonderful medical professionals across the world.

The other songs on the EP Include

Come Heavy Sleep is a type of re-imagined Elizabethan ballad, so you hear Gareth’s Nylon string classical guitars prominently, harking back to his roots in the classical world, but overlaid with drums/percussion and a calming sleeplike vocal delivery.

The Flame is a more rock track with electric guitars and a rhythm section and has a certain echo of the great Blue Oyster Cult.

‘Am I Ever Gonna See Your Face Again’. In this rendering Koch re-invents the song as a sensitive ballad, laced with classical guitars and a very different vocal to the original

Check out the video premiere for Code Blue

Stream from your favourite service

Connect with Gareth Koch

Gareth Koch-Code Blue(Official)

May 8, 2020 Leave a comment

Review of Steve Kilbey and Gareth Koch album Chryse Planitia

April 3, 2020 Leave a comment

By Adam Jones 24/3/2020

Some artists and bands change like a slow-moving chameleon. Listen to Bowie’s first and last albums, and Queen’s, and the Rolling Stones. None of them gathered any moss, but did they gain any shine?

In Australia we have some extraordinary and treasured original artists who consistently deliver creative fodder for the music loving Aussie cattle, and all those other beautiful creatures herding around this great continent and across the world. Enigmatic riders on the dragons of fiery passion and creativity.

Some amazing dragon’s sons also have a long tail that lashes our ears with a quirky but blunt sentiment, along with a hearty serving of provocative ideas. It takes a true lover of the art of contemporary music to really appreciate the legend that is Steve Kilbey, the master of The Church, and a maestro for the lovers of exceptional songwriting and performance. But he is still somehow pleasingly familiar. When you get this close to musical utopia, the worst thing you can do is change too much!

But wait, there’s more!! Another shiny dragon egg has borne a different, but kindred spirit, conjured up by the masters of fantastic melody and classical classiness, and his name is Gareth Koch. Wow, this Aria award winner plays the guitar better than the best lover in the world tinkers with the sweet body of the object of his desire. Gareth relentlessly pleased my ears, and they were suffering gladly from his incandescent acoustic sensory overload.

Their incredible collaboration, helmed by the solid and laconic vocals and songwriting from Steve, is a somewhat different, but just frigging awesome, version of those fantastic albums we were treated to last millennium in the only Church I would every prey in.

So what can we find between the pews, up in the mural-covered arches, and hidden in cobwebbed bell-towers? Well, I tell you right now. There is still so much to discover, even after a few listens I feel like I need to spend 6 months with this album hitting my ears at least a few times per week, before I could do it some real justice with my review. But with only a few spins on my digital turntable, I will do my best, and give it a go!

‘Chryse Planitia’ is a smooth round golden plain, found north of the equator on the planet Mars, AND probably one of the most interesting and original album names I’ve seen since Pink Floyd in the late 60s. Well, I suppose its a very appropriate name, because it definitely rocketed my mind to another planet!

This collection of great songs opens with the fast-paced band expression that is Fallen Crown. “Hey baby, I’m a billionaire! Woah! She said I’ve got everything I need”. Well, lucky her, but her crown has fallen to the ground, because “her broken King don’t know what to say, clinging to the throne by a piece of string”. Surely this is a critical appraisal of greed and power, but “wow, you look so pretty!”.

The Fatal Hour strikes early on, “still sour in its cage, while fools come out to promenade”. This slower, and darker song is modern folklore. With multiple acoustic guitars plucking along, this is moody melodies galore. Then a bit of Didge introduces us to that misnamed Tassie Tiger, the Thylacine, mourning the extinction of that weird native dog from the map of Tassie. “Somebody came and took them all away, but still I wonder where they are tonight”. Next comes Tears of The End Of The World, a ballad for all that we seem to have lost and destroyed on planet Earth. And some people want to go and live on inhospitable Mars! Why, so they can “smile at the end of the day, mean everything, mean anything, give nothing away”?

In ‘Ophelia Without Wine’ Steve is “dying for the chance for her to come my way”. Gareth is once again amazing on the nylon strings. This whole album has so much to offer. Rest assured that the rest of the album, with songs that are so easy to indulge in, and with titles such as ’Heart is Heavy’, ‘Lady Ishtar in her Garden’, ‘Broken Toys’, and ‘Lost At Sea’, are sweet or sour treats that just keep coming, like a bottomless bowl of your favourite dessert or chilli con carne.

Honestly, this album has just been added to my ‘Essential Listening List’. Say no more.

(photo credit: Tony Mott)

Listen to the album on your favourite platform:

Connect with Steve Kilbey:

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Tim Walker’s New Album Bridge of Angels

April 3, 2020 Leave a comment

Ex-Sydney singer-songwriter Tim Walker moved back to his hometown of Adelaide earlier this year and immediately began recording this new album, his first for a while.

The album was inspired by a recent trip to Europe, where Tim was struck by a culture saturated with centuries of spiritual and religious symbols, strivings and sentiments. The new album has more universal themes than his first (Fellow Traveller), which was very Sydney-oriented.

Beginning in folk, he went into a country rock act, and now is a prolific soloist, doing gigs around Adelaide. He was a regular on the Sydney live circuit and played at several NSW festivals. He found a SA recording studio in Grange this year, and immediately began laying down tracks according to a careful plan, devised over many months.

Track list with Descriptions:

On The Bridge (a prelude): This is a crossroad, of civilisation, of history, the course of your own life, a juncture, a leap. The “bridge” refers to Rome’s Bridge of Angels of the album’s title, which is lined with 10 angels and overlooked by a castle, on the River Tiber. A short classical piece, it provides the thematic underpinning of the entire album – a beautiful, floating spark of hope and redemption for a world in flux.
The Loving Arms (those we love): The race is on from the day you are born as time and love play off against each other, and the kindness of strangers. The real currency of life, more valuable than gold or silver, never to be taken for granted.
Every Story Tells a Picture (the plague): With 7.8 billion people on Earth and millions more being added every year, we are running out of everything, including our humanity and our judgement.
Mirror of Love (a reflection):A photograph can lie, but love cannot lie. It is the ultimate mirror.
Red Velvet Chair (a friend in need): When you sit in this chair you tell the truth, and the truth is told to you. It’s the advice of a friend, the helping hand. But hey, you can have some fun with it too!
Streets of Rome (eyes are opened): The ancient capital was no stranger to the album’s themes. Without the benefit of science, its original citizensinvented their own answers to life, preserved today with respect and awe, embedded in every stone of the city. And they had to deal with the same spiritual questions as us. Rome was therefore the accidental epicentre of the album.
The Bolshie Swing (the dance): Time for a break. This track started off as a playful riff and expanded into a mini-orchestra, was left on the shelf for a while, then rushed into action as track 7. It was the understudy.
Face Without a Name (stare inside): Ultimately we are just one of the crowd. It’s a big world and that crowd is made up of billions. Not often can we roar; more often at most we can squeak. Not invisible -but maybe only a “hill of beans”, as Bogart said in one of his films.
Fly into the Sunrise (flying home): You have been away, seen many things. Now you wing your way on a long flight home, from the nighttime behind (the past) to the sunrise ahead (the future). The huge jet streams past, its passengers look out and simultaneously look in, through half-asleep eyes; the moment is sublime.
Star (inspiration): Maybe it’s love at first sight; maybe it’s the inspiration that keeps alive a distant flame. Perhaps it’s fate.

Listen on your favourite platform:

Throwing Shapes Feature Album Tranquillity Base

March 28, 2020 Leave a comment

Throwing Shapes Feature Album Tranquillity Base

EP8 Cover Sqaure

Throwing Shapes is Fox Shannon. An electronic and Drum and Bass producer from Perth, Western Australia. Unique and forward-thinking electronic music. With influences from Pendulum, Sub Focus and Shock One to Disclosure, Deadmau5 and Slumber Jack.

His energetic performances and catchy dance floor hooks have won him growing interest from community radio, with airplay around the country. And seen him feature on numerous compilation albums. And secure billing at local underground dance events, such as ‘Reawakening’.

Throwing Shapes latest release,the EP ‘Tranquility Base’ is now available on Spotify, Apple Music and most other streaming services.

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(Tim Fox Shannon)

Track descriptions:

Tranquility Base – (Mid to up tempo) The title track, is up lifting and euphoric. A truly majestic feeling to this track. Angelic choir pads floating over a rolling rhythm section. With synth leads in the chorus that lift you higher and higher. The song is about the beauty and fascination of creativity and fantasy, that we all possess.

Demons Run – (Mid tempo vibe). A slightly deeper, introspective type track. The verses lend themselves to a sort of fantasy world that then drops away into a large space with a dominating bass synth, in the chorus. Gradually opening up to the more ambient, introspective sections of synth chords and leads. The title is taken from a Doctor Who episode called ‘Demons Run, When A Good Man Goes To War’.

Wonders To Behold – (Mid to up tempo) Beautiful piano chords that build to a catchy lead synth line in the chorus, with a positive and up lifting vibe but also somehow defiant and proud. It ends with a sort of marching beat. A triumphant feeling of overcoming struggle, on this track.

Marauder – (Up tempo) Is probably the heaviest track on the EP but it’s also got the most funk and groove. A rolling, funky rhythm based verse which drops into a dark chorus of fat driving bass synths. The song gradually opens up to more melodic sections with a positive vibe and different chord changes, as synth lines and ambience builds the track to it’s crescendo. All the songs on this EP gradually develop and evolve throughout course of the song and take you on a journey. And this track is no exception.

Defiant, Yet At Your Mercy – (Down tempo) Is the mellow track with the deepest vibes on this EP. It begins with slow ambient choir pads, chimes and some atmospheric ear candy that builds and drops into sort of swing’ing beat and wide synth chords, that have a slightly sad, introspective feeling followed by a lead bass synth line that drives that feeling home even more. The song evolves further and you’re introduced to a piano lead section which caries the main melody of the song and is a highlight of this release.

Stream / Connect with Throwing Shapes

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Tag: aussie music

STEVE KILBEY AND GARETH KOCH NEW ALBUM SONGS FROM ANOTHER LIFE: MUSIC OF ANTIQUITY

Julie-Anne Marshall Releases Dream Pop Single Crossfire

Jessie-May Kitchen Debut EP Zone Out

Kaijin Solo New EP Universal Love

SLC May Playlist Additions

Gareth Koch-New EP Code Blue

Gareth Koch-Code Blue(Official)

Review of Steve Kilbey and Gareth Koch album Chryse Planitia

Tim Walker’s New Album Bridge of Angels

Track list with Descriptions:

Throwing Shapes Feature Album Tranquillity Base

Throwing Shapes Feature Album Tranquillity Base

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