Search for vocal production performed on Thursday, 8th January 2009.
vocal production
We found the term vocal production in 94 articles.
With a name that sounds like a computer game, York's Red:shift are politically and poetically minded post-punk rockers.
LaRusso: Can't Let It Go / Seven Days
A two note guitar motif grabs your attention before a stop start vocal line slowly leads you into the pogo inducing chorus of 'Can't Let It Go'.
Roachville are a 4-piece metal/hardcore outfit from Swansea. With the current influx of Spock haired nancy boys coming from the valleys I was praying this was gonna rock, and rock it did!
La Russo's "fourletterword" starts with a big surge of rising chords and ringing guitar. The song itself is an open, yearning melody.
'More' starts off with a nice lazy beat, a bit of jangly guitar and then in comes Peter Bott with the vocals.
Think early New Order or Joy Division, think Arab Strap, remember the Blue Aeroplanes and take a pinch of Echoboy for the backing tracks and you will be somewhere near the mark for describing Cosmonaut.
The KBC: Sherlock Groove Holmes
Preston's Indie disco kids (literally) return with a download single... or in PR speak "digital release".
Luke Hirst: A Demonstration By...
Looking all serious and sombre in the accompanying promo pictures, Luke Hirst aka The Saint conjures up the images of windswept mountains, upon which he pours his heart out to a soft rock soundtrack.
Ed Harcourt: All Of Your Days Will Be Blessed
Pumping organ, with squeaks of the pumps and all, start this first single from new album 'From Every Sphere' and continue to be the main force, pushing the song along.
Annika Line Trost might be best recognised for her exploits with electro pop outfit Cobra Killer, but the Berlin based artist's self-produced 2nd solo album Trust Me certainly deserves some acknowledgment.
"Stop The Clock" introduces us to Blind Jackson with a whiny little guitar riff that intermittently returns.
This is the second album from Belgian alt-pop outfit Sharko and yet from its 15 tracks there is a struggle to find any true stand out moments.
This CD has a five star production on some uncertain material. There's a terrific sound to it, recorded as it is in a "purpose built studio" (what other sorts are there?).
The Palms really fit the modern day bill with their take on the current Indie rock / dance scene ala Kasabian, but one or too vocal production issues and an occasional penchant for misguided fret-wanking hold them back from hitting the full throttle.
Blue Sky Project: Masquerade EP
I have awaited more tracks from Blue Sky Project since listening to their last EP on MySpace (oh the beauty of the Web!) and thought they had potential, so naturally the next offering from them needed to exceed all expectations.
Joan As Police Woman: Flushed Chest
There are a few high-ranking names you could try if asked who Joan Wasser makes you think of, but the piano says Nina Simone, even though 'Flushed Chest' uses several other instruments in a finished product that can still leave you feeling as if you've witnessed voice and piano in secluded emotional contact.
What immediately struck me about this four-track CD when I first listened to it was the quality of the production.
There are two songs on their debut single, lead track Factor 8 and additional song Spinning. With all records, there is always a song that you prefer over another.
Dan Glendining is a song writer and musician whose previous band Headswim made a little progress into the national consciousness during the 90s.
Against Me!: As the Eternal Cowboy
Against Me! released the best album, in my opinion, of 2002 with their full length debut "Reinventing Axl Rose" with Gainesville luminaries No Idea Records.
'The English Way' is the latest offering from post-hardcore band Fightstar, which starts pretty much as you'd expect a song of theirs to go.
indie
Cartwheel: Man: In Love With Machine
With a name better suited to a lumbering set of Creation Records shoe-gazers circa 1993, imagine the surprise to find sweet tinged electronica drifting from the speakers.
Just as the simple album title so glaringly suggests, Jim is Jamie Lidell's most conventional release yet...
Oh, dear, they used to be rather good. I had to force myself to read the script that came with this album.
This Black Velvetine's latest release, the three track EP "Goodbye" reeks of all things sleaze, snot and debauched rock.
Wrestling Jacob: The Darkened Glass EP
Hmmmm... too much of this smacks of the one genre that strikes fear into the most hardened music fan, Christian Rock.
How exactly do you "draw" silence then? Do you sit down with a crayon and a piece of paper next the National Institute for the Mute and wait for something non-vocal to grab your artistic muse?
These 4 lads hail from Huddersfield, and are fairly embryonic as they formed in 2006. The time spent since has been put to productive use under the watchful eye of producer Steve Whitfield, resulting in this 3 track offering.
Funk? That's the question isn't it!? Why funk? Is there something in the genes of white 16-18 year-olds, who when forming a non-"rock" band makes them think "I know, funk"?
This two tracker from The Outlines is a self-produced side step from the rock-pop formula adopted on previous releases.
Hearing the news that you've been asked to review a demo from a local acoustic singer/songwriter is enough to send shivers down the spine of even the hardiest of writer.
The Jon Doe's have been around for a while now - they're a 4-piece emo/melodic punk outfit from Leeds/Bradford - you've probably heard the name but never seen the band...
I deliberately delayed starting this review as the first listen frightened me into the thought that the single El Shake might be too challenging to describe very well, but when I played it today things became distinctly clear...
This accomplished recording goes out as a three-track CD on September 13th on Over Unity Records. Lead song "Prototype" adopts early Parisman style with some Depeche Modish keyboard licks that lead into a guitar/bass/drums band song with a keyboard middle section that isn't quite rock and isn't quite dance.
Opening with a swirling, effect laden guitar and brooding synth "Bite The Hand" evokes memories of many of Britpop's finest; the gloomy brightness of Mansun and guitar lines "borrowed" from Suede.
Waking the Witch set to record a live DVD at their new album's Leeds launch party
Local girls Waking the Witch release a new CD - 'Boys from the Abattoir' - on 5th February and have announced a 40-day nationwide tour to coincide with the album.
Nerve Engine wield their guitars, with the precision of a surgeon's scalpel. Barrage after barrage of "Gugga Gugga" guitars rain down and some intricate playing shows off the highly flexed skills of the band.
The Mars Volta: Frances the Mute
Ok I know that The Mars Volta have always been a bit of a controversial subject, bit like marmite really; you either love them or you hate them.
They're from Wales. And damn proud of it, it would seem. Novello come from the label 'Dragonffli' ("spelt the Welsh way") and are purveyors of catchy, sometimes dark, atmospheric rock music, but without the cheese of similar rock bands, or the pointless whinging of most emo bands, which they maybe sound quite similar too.
Palo Alto is a city in west California known for its electronics industry. It has got together as a huge band of 55,000 members, elected Elaine as their lead singer, signed to Valentine Records and produced "Wades into Water" its second release on said label.
A Day Left: The pseudo post neo modern avante bassment garden rock EP
Two spelling mistakes in a pisstake title that takes no piss is not a good start. A sound check drum intro to a trying-hard-to-impress first track takes things down another notch.
The opening bars of the mistitled "Orgasm" are beautifully done. A well controlled and very sweet guitar phrase leads into Anthony Slattery's very good vocal delivery on a big open song.
Jon Doe's: For Emergency Use Only
Having been around since 1998 it is hoped that Jon Doe's would now be at ease with their craft enough to have overcome all those painful mistakes synonymous with any bands early days.
I went to The Vine once in hope to see these guys play but unfortunately when I arrived they had finished and I was treated to this God-awful electro band - but finally I am happy to hear some of Vatican Jet's material.
Leeds based four-piece, The Breech, were formed in July 2001 and have developed a deeply musical and distinctly unique sound.
When the news first arrived that Radiohead frontman Thom Yorke was to release a solo record it came as a bit of a surprise, certainly considering Radiohead were currently in the middle of a tour and busy recording their highly anticipated seventh album, however, many felt Thom would go solo at some point...
"Watch the World Go By" is Serf's new big single. The Americana guitar band sound is fine and dandy. The main song has a big dumb and terrific chorus and the layers of strong guitar are a treat.
With a badly scribbled post-it note as an inlay Pigzipper introduce themselves with little decorum. The same impatience with which they hastily prepared for a review seems to have also influenced the giddy desire to fill out this 10 song album with everything they have ever committed to tape...
Medium 21: Killings from the Dial
It just gets tougher doesn't it? An album that would have been shockingly good three years ago is merely good at today's prices.
Joan As Police Woman: To Survive
Superbly serene yet gregariously graceful, the second album from Joan Wasser and Co. is a magnificent exercise in chamber-pop intricacy.
Shadow of Memories: Too Much Within
Darkly epic melodious doom-metal from the rock metropolis of Headingley, Shadow of Memories latest audio instalment is the two-track EP "Too Much Within".
The opening guitar induces a wince, the shaky drumbeat turns the wince into a grimace and as the vocals come in teeth grind until there's nothing but flesh.
AM are a three piece rock band from Brooklyn. They settle the question of whether all Americans are cool once and for all.
I always deem it wise to respect an artist's decision to go solo (rather than ask questions) and especially those who then decide to produce a solo album, all that despair, loss; love and heartbreak in one album must surely be an intense experience to put yourself through?
Lucky Jim: You're Lovely to Me
"... you may hear echoes of Neil Young, Lee Hazlewood, Nick Cave, Van Morrison, Serge Gainsbourg, Arthur Lee, Leonard Cohen, Brian Wilson, Gram Parsons, Bob Dylan, Ewan MacColl, Phil Spector and many others ..." (Skint Records website) You may also find traces of nuts.
Imogen Heap: Speak For Yourself
Imogen Heap is, according to the Guardian, "the first download diva", views of her Myspace and downloads of the music seem to make her bigger than the Beatles.
Right to begin with I promise not to make any comments connecting poor bands with Bradford - I have recently had several, shall we say sharp remarks, pointing to the fact that I may be being unjust regards the city.
BigBlu have a talent for melody. Their music is simple, evocative, tuneful and very radio-friendly. The mood is wistful and yearning.
So, they're good enough for John Peel, then. Still, he's not that fussy, is he? Let's face it, an hour of obscure euro punk and you start reaching for Radio 2 before seizures set in half the time - or is that just me?
The Scaramanga Six: Strike! Up the Band
Strike! Up the Band is a monster. The 13 songs, the two videos and the SIX SIX SIX count-in absolutely guarantee one hell of a good mood.
According to their press release, the three members of Seed are only 16. Blimey. At such a young age, it's fair to say that they have plenty of potential.
Anti-Flag are a 5-piece melodic punk band from Pennsylvania, USA. As their name suggests they are a band with some deep-rooted political ideals.
More funky house music? Oh yes. King Booty sound like some sort of cross between those endless 'chilled dance music' CDs you see clogging up valuable space in Virgin Megastores and the sound of French dance music from about 1998 - 1999.
Having spent four years of my life in Bradford, I still never worked it out as to why this curry capital of the north has managed to take it's place as the 'must have' of any self respecting Rock bands tour dates.
Ryan Spendlove is name to watch. He has a pretty face, a sharp-tongued soulful voice and the kind of snarly delivery that every generation likes to call its own.
The Printed Sound: The Announcement EP
These days the term "Indie-rock" is enough to strike fear into the heart of even the most hardened, weathered hack.
Unfortunately for the discerning popster, this CD would not appear - like many a K-Tel offering of yesteryear - to be available in any shops.
Various Artists: Bright Young Things 2002
The Bright Young Things CD for 2002 is being distributed by Leeds City Council in April as a free addition to the glossy and widely available Leeds Guide.
Lauren Harris: Calm Before The Storm
'Calm Before The Storm' is that most frustrating of things: an album lavished with effort, polished to within an inch of its life, and with an army of people contributing to each track (five people have a hand in 'Let Us Be') and yet, it's difficult to get excited about this album.
Kanye West: 808s And Heartbreak
He dropped out of college in 2004, touched the sky in 2005 and by 2007 was living the good life, but in 2008 Kanye West is welcoming us to heartbreak with the greatest artistic gamble mainstream pop has seen in years.
Schadenfreude. I bet The Nearly Men do this a lot. To put it quite frankly, there's a hell of a lot of bands out there that are not fit to lick these talented bastards' shoes.
Adam Masterson: One Tale Too Many
With production by long term Van Morrison engineer Mick Glossop and a room full of Van Morrison session players on the case, this album was bound to be interesting.
Leeds Music Scene and Wintermute have a gossip about the new "Fun With Wizard Stencils" EP, managing along the way to incorporate some obligatory wizard magic.
Duncan McFarlane Band: Woodshed Boys
After having had the pleasure of catching this band live several times I had very high expectations of this album.
The world is undoubtedly a better, not to mention considerably more interesting place with The Butterfly in it.
As the year comes to an end Vib Gyor can look back and smile. An ever growing international fan base, great reviews, spectacular live shows and even a mention in American magazine Entertainment Weekly and after listening to this latest collection of their work it suggests that 2005 is going to be even better.
Oceansize: One Day All This Could Be Yours
Chris Sheldon (Feeder and so on) has done a very tidy production job on a couple of new but shapeless and over extended Oceansize tunes, with a storming live recording of "Massive Bereavement" that pushes the playing time up to over 20 minutes.
Crack In The Sun: Jim'll Fax It EP
Firstly I will say I am not a huge fan of new punk bands but somehow after seeing these guys live in some place in Northwich the other night the energy and humour onstage from these Mansfield lads compelled me to grab a hold of one of their free CDs which humorously had several cut-outs of Jim Bowen (one complete with a doll of Bully!) on the cover along with...
The Search Map: Tiny Victories EP
Hearing genuinely talented musicians for the first time is something that I experience very rarely. The Tiny Victories EP by The Search Map gave me one such experience.
Having toured with many large acts including James Blunt, Sheryl Crow and Joseph Arthur, Pallot's album 'Fires' is sure to be purchased primarily by fans she has won over with stunning live performances, myself included.
Due to various factors, I have had this album for quite a while now. This I am pleased about as I have a relationship with this album just as I have with all my albums that I have invested in and, due to this, I feel adequately prepared to review it.
Various Artists: Ali Whitton / Sarah Williams split single
The split single can look deceptively simple - two bands that stand up well in isolation can incur a musical car crash when unsuccessfully married on release.
Tom Napper & Tom Bliss @ Cock & Bottle (Bradford)
With this year's move to a new home, the world's oldest folk club is suddenly closer to Leeds than ever before, just when folk music is elbowing its way back into the general consciousness.
Charlotte Hatherley: I Want You To Know
Ash albums were always a right old mess - tracks were either totally poptastic gems or just plain shit.
Naïve sounding rockers "Columbia Drive" are Newcastle based, with an international tinge in singer Louise Dal's CV.
Sam Robson catches up with Leeds five-piece Vib Gyor following the release of new EP "The Stalker"
The Like: Are You Thinking What I'm Thinking?
The Like are three extremely photogenic waiflike females who make self-confessed indie-pop. Unfortunately, their reliance on their own aesthetic appeal means the actual quality of the music falls by the wayside.
The Charlatans: Up At The Lake
The first song on this album is the title track. It rocks and stomps, demanding volume. Burgess blends his natural voice, with the falsetto style he adopted on the 'Wonderland' album.
This is essentially a standard 4-track demo, albeit a topsy turvey one. Two of the best tracks from the band's debut album A Song For Gill and 2 sneak previews from the forthcoming album Loved And Lost due out in the very near future.
Captain Wilberforce: Everyone Loves A Villain
This release is quite a confusing listen. The explosive, fuzzy power-pop 'gems' of Captain Wilberforce's previous releases set the tone, with a thoroughly tolerable, bubbly aim to please.
Arctic Monkeys: Who the Fuck Are Arctic Monkeys EP
How many million sales exactly? It beggars belief, it really does. Sorry to break yer suit jacket and jeans-wearing hearts kids, but it's time someone said the truth about this - the Arctic Monkeys are simply Not Very Good.
Thursday: A City By the Light Divided
Thursday will forever be cursed with being tagged as the band that sprung the traps on the infamous genre of 'screamo'.
The memories are hazy, the order of events may not be quite right but I know two things; beer flows freely in The Fav and amazingly it didn't rain, or at least certainly not enough to water down my Sol or to kill any of the musicians on stage.