Hughie Mac releases "Let’s Get Away” Single

URL: https://www.hughiemac.com/

It takes a very specific kind of singer to make a cover song feel like an original, and time and time again, the talented Hughie Mac proves more than adept at doing just that. In his brand new single “Let’s Get Away,” he dispenses a charismatic vocal from behind a tenderly-produced microphone that serves as our bridge from 2019 into the gilded age of midcentury bop. Here, and really with the entirety of what all who give Hughie Mac Sings Some Great Songs, Pt. 3 a spin this spring will discover in its enormous tracklist, Mac crushes us with his emotive singing style and finds a way to spellbind us with little more than his elegant voice and a simplistic backing band inside of nearly three minutes of play.

The instrumentation in this single is very brooding and emotional from the get-go; in more ways than one, Mac is holding all of the pieces in the jazzy backdrop together with his slick vocal, and making it so that the lyrics are the central flashpoint of all the action going on in the track. He’s front and center in the mix, but his singing doesn’t drown out the colorful piano melody that is framing his words and providing some fluidity to the somewhat rigid percussion. “Let’s Get Away” has a streamlined, radio-ready production value, but believe me – it’s hardly the artificially-faceted pop that you’ll commonly find lurking around the commercial side of your FM dial.

SOUNDCLOUD: https://soundcloud.com/user-271952191

This track really captures the energy of Hughie Mac Sings Some Great Songs, Pt. 3 profoundly. Mac is never afraid to take on the challenges that come with covering some of them most important songs ever written in the history of pop music, and with “Let’s Get Away,” we get to experience the full scope of his vocal palate without the source material’s historical value clouding our analysis of the song. I’ve been a lifelong Sinatra fan, but I don’t necessarily think about him when I listen to this single. I’m taken aback by the lyricism and drawn into Mac’s web of melodic grooves without ever thinking about the story behind the song that’s being played for me in real-time. I’m not even close to kidding when I say that this is one of the most refined skills that any recording artist could ever hope to possess.

Say what you will about contemporary pop music, but as far as I’m concerned, Hughie Mac is doing more than a good job of keeping things interesting from the underground and beyond with songs like “Let’s Get Away.” We’re living in one of the most incredibly diverse times for music and the people who make it, and though there’s no shortage of smart young songwriters making a big impact in 2019, it’s guys like Mac who embody the spirit of pop better than anyone else on the planet, transcending age, race, gender and culture. He’s undyingly committed to his craft, and as a result of his devotion, we’re treated to some of the strongest musicality we’re heard since the original version of this song first saw release so long ago.

YOU TUBE CHANNEL: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAy5Zjorch1WuI19xqGUUJg

Joshua Beach

Sprout EP, Luxury Single by Stephanie Rose

You hear some singers for the first time and know, beyond doubt, they are born for song. These are the sort of singers who wear music like a loose garment, as natural as breathing itself, and treat every word with the same gravity no matter the composer. Stephanie Rose has long since proven she is that caliber of singer, but her new EP release Spout, the second in her young career, catapults her into rarified air. The EP’s six songs shows her mettle tackling various types of modern country, but also a willingness to overturn the expectations of newcomers and reminding them that country music is an elastic, rather than static, thing. She has a keen-eyed acumen for looking past the surface of her subjects and a skill for storytelling we hear from few performers of her ilk. This is the sound of a gifted artist willing to take chances, but still more than capable of entertaining the masses.

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/stephanierosemusic/

Stephanie Rose is in full control of the first song, “Sprout”, from the moment her voice rises out of the mix. She sounds energized by both the song’s sentiments and musical performance surrounding her, but demonstrates the loose yet well placed consideration for never overstating herself. Everything she does fits the song. This is further away, nominally, from a typical country style than the EP’s later songs, but the organ and horns added into the song only make it more enjoyable rather than sounding like needless and arbitrary touches. Horns aren’t unheard of in country music, but you nevertheless should admire the daring in attempting to reintroduce them to modern audiences.

“Rusted Love” has songwriting showing how Rose can write about well worn topics with her own voice and she has an eye for telling imagery capable of opening a song’s meaning for listeners. The best songs, invariably, allow listeners to form their own personal associations, however, and though much of Sprout is written from a presumably autobiographical slant, Rose is never so nakedly specific about her life that it breaks the songwriting spell. “Rusted Love” is an excellent example of a song that might resonate in different ways with very different people. The drumming is a big reason for the song’s dramatic push, but it has strong dynamics that draw you in.

"SPROUT" EP ON CD BABY: https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/stephanierose4

The song “Luxury” is quite unlike the two preceding numbers. There’s no striding rock beat or horns – instead, there’s a level of intimacy present here Rose never aspires to in the first two numbers. She takes us into the life of a family living on the financial margins and preserving through it thanks to their love for one another – there’s no easy answers offered up in this song and Rose’s voice confronts the its details and subject matter with a wide ranging emotional vocal.

“Same Old Same Old” is a lot more light hearted, by far, and has a balance between sensitivity and wry detachment that I like, but it wouldn’t be nearly as successful without such an on point arrangement. The bare bones tempo, harmonica and guitar, and instantly memorable chorus are greater than the sum of their individual parts. Sprout shows how to write and recording a meaningful EP release while making it sound easy. Anyone who knows music and songwriting well understands, of course, these six songs are the result of much effort, experience, years of honing a craft, making the necessary connections with sympathetic collaborators, but Stephanie Rose makes it all come across like these songs were there all along and only waiting for her to arrive and give them voice. It’s the highest compliment I can give and worth every syllable.

“LUXARY” SINGLE: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/luxury-single/1449442969

Joshua Beach

The Merrymaker’s Orchestrina - Little King and the Salamander (demos)

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/TheMerrymakersOrchestrina/

When you take zany lyrics, spacey riffage and stylish, cosmopolitan drumming that owes as much to the old school jazz construct as it does contemporary experimental post-rock, you end up with Little King and the Salamander (demos), the masterpiece album from The Merrymaker’s Orchestrina, which is out now wherever independent music is available. Little King and the Salamander (demos) is, as its name implies, a demo anthology of unreleased material that the east coast three-piece developed in-studio, and it’s a golden moment for the band to put it mildly. “Jeepers Creepers,” “The Merrymaker’s Orchestrina,” “Thinking of You” and “Together” are easily the most unruly and relentless sonic experimentations from the band to date, but alongside the other ten songs that make up the track listing, they bring us into the eye of the hurricane that is this profoundly engaging trio of musicians.

There’s a lot to be explored in Little King and the Salamander (demos), and it all starts with the folk songs “She’ll Do Anything,” “I’ll Be (Kisses at Your Door)” and the bristling balladry of “Fade into the Night.” The acoustic tracks are the cornerstone of this album’s charisma, and they pepper the contents of the record with a humble, accessible strain of folk-pop that is just as heavy and unforgettable as the more rock-centric songs like “Hey Everybody,” “Jeepers Creepers,” and the surreal “White Light and Lullabies.” Although it has a sprawling collection of different sounds for psychedelic aficionados to spend hours picking apart, the band included no filler nor throwaway tracks (a nice change of pace from what most so-called demo albums have to offer).

I’m halfway inclined to be skeptical as to whether or not some of these songs really are rough demonstrations of raw material, only because of how calculated a delivery they sport. Tracks like “Slip Away (Dreamin’ Again)” and “The Merrymaker’s Orchestrina” don’t sound like a band trying to find their groove and figure out the direction of a composition still in its infant stages of development; they sound like single-worthy powerhouses that could have just as easily made their way onto Act 3 in their present state of production. If any critics questioned whether or not The Merrymaker’s Orchestrina were firm in their style of attack prior to this album’s release, they’ve got a pretty assertive answer in these songs, which prove once and for all that this band is totally in touch with their creative direction and utilizing the full capacity of their collective talents.

For those of you who haven’t gotten into this group’s music yet, Little King and the Salamander (demos) offers the perfect segue into the universe of mind-bending psychedelia and folk balladry that The Merrymaker’s Orchestrina have singlehandedly conceived. Everything has been falling into place for this threesome to break into the mainstream American consciousness, and this record has a chance to bring the band a degree of international attention that their caliber of play demands and, quite honestly, deserves. They’re riding a wave of renewed interest in postmodernity to the top, and their latest LP ensures that they won’t be escaping the limelight anytime soon.

AMAZON: https://www.amazon.com/Little-King-Salamander-Demos-Explicit/dp/B07J26ZRCY

Joshua Beach

This Place by Angelo David

With “This Place,” the brand new single from buzzworthy pop singer Angelo David, the Boston-born vocalist invites us into his heart to stay and makes a strong case to support his high-ranking spot in the modern indie music hierarchy. “This Place” starts out simply enough with a fifteen second intro that is riddled with a mind-bender of a melody that unfolds into a club-style template for David to make his own. It doesn’t take long for him to sink his teeth into the words, which are reflective but suggest an optimism that is fleeting, if not almost too divine to be contained.

“This Place” lacks any of the aggression that has become commonplace in similarly designed indie pop songs, but that shouldn’t imply that it isn’t capable of delivering its signature grooves without a struggle. David takes his time building up a cinematic tone in the opening verses before totally coming undone in the chorus, which swings like a pendulum and careens into almost anything that gets in its path. The execution is spot-on and not rushed in the least; I get the idea that David knew exactly what he wanted to do with this single and made sure that every detail was up to par before giving it the okay for release.

YOU TUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXcjm6KHrrBXYw18FHwSPjw

The amount of care put into the production is more than evident even when taking a small glimpse at the meaty mix of the chorus. From the get-go these levels are clearly defined, but in the song’s climax we really feel the full force of the bass as it’s meant to be heard in a live setting. Overwhelming might be putting it mildly, and though the cranked volume comes out of nowhere and has no qualms with slapping us hard with a melodicism that is emotional and empowering, the transition is much smoother than one might expect.

Angelo David bears it all to us in “This Place,” and he doesn’t project even a hint of uneasiness in any portion of the track. His lyrics are steeped in soul-searching, at some points even feeling more like a diary entry than standard pop prose, and there’s never any question as to whether or not he’s being himself with us. He’s got no problem exposing his innermost thoughts to the world around him, which in itself is an inspiring quality for any person to have, but all the more essential when starting a serious career in pop music.

Whether you’re a hardcore Top 40 consumer or not is irrelevant when discussing “This Place” and the collective releases of Angelo David to date. His music is produced with top shelf technique that doesn’t exactly fall into every young singer’s lap, and through all of the excitement that he’s been creating with singles like this one and videos like the incredibly powerful “House is Burning Down” and “Mirror,” he’s maintained an candid, easygoing attitude that speaks volumes about his creative identity and barebones character. “This Place” is absolutely a worthy acquisition if you’re in the market for authentic grooves to start off 2019 with, and honestly I’m very eager to hear what David does with this awesome sound next.

I-TUNES:  https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/angelo-david/1152583603

Joshua Beach

Davie Simmons feat. Andy Camp and Esa Lehti - Angel Lover Music

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/IntervalsAlbum/

Remember the first time that you fell in love? The quickening of your pulse, your heart flutters, and the calm you can't explain? The uncertainty of it all - will it last? Will it leave? Can you even trust that it's real? You don't even know it yet but your heart has already listened to “Angel Music Lover”, apparently. 

“Angel Music Lover “ is a timeless piece of incandescent music, a blend of too many genres to even try to explain to you, the listener, because it was meant for the ears and not for my words. You will have to stop reading, start caring, definitely start feeling, and let the rhythm take you away. But while we wait for your obvious decision in this Information Age to make the leap to Act 1 of the greatest story never told, how about a little background on the musical you won't be able to stop telling your friends about? Unless, of course, you're ready to just play the song and let the sounds take you away.

Once upon a time two kids had a dream to make it big in music, we've all been there. Who among us hasn't either been in a band during high school or pretended it one day out back in the parking lot with our friends’ music blaring? David Simmons and Andy Camp didn't just think it though, they tried to live it. The dream died, lost to the moment, forgotten about, and put away. Thankfully, however, anything written and not destroyed is never truly gone and recently old friends reunited, a former collaborator guitarist named Esa Lehti hopped on board, and a goldmine of Sixties poetry finally left the station. What we all received was a screenplay likely worth its weight in gold - Finding David. A tale of love lasting forever and the anxiety felt that it won't. Just like the fear of shooting for the sky and knowing you might come back down. 

The best way to introduce a musical is to let a promo video out into the world and that's exactly what the writers have done. “Angel Music Lover” hits on the notes of the power of love - asking if a flame can really burn blue for twenty years. None ever has for me, but the hope still lives. Love however resists the temptations of ego and regret and maybe, just maybe, any love is a worthwhile enough effort to expend the energy trying to get to that place of forever. We'll leave that up to the listener. The singers aren't even sure if you love them or the music. Simply let the melody tell the story while the words set the scene. A love that never stops, only slows to a trickle, but still continues to grow. Who wouldn't spend twenty years to understand something that true and real? And what person doesn't want to be loved that deeply that someone believes they're an impossible task? Feel all, let the regrets be taken away, and prepare for a musical like you've never heard before with David Simmons’ Finding David.

YOU TUBE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i1fsUKPDvDQ

Joshua Beach

The music of Davie Simmons has been heard all over the world due to the radio plugging services offered by Musik Radio Promotions. Learn more - HTTPS://musikandfilm.com

Rob Alexander - “Long Road Coming Home” (single)

HEAR NOW: https://robalexander.hearnow.com/

A percussive synth harmony seeps into the air like a thick fog, and before we know it we’re surrounded by providential sounds that are larger than life yet delivered unto us subtly. A palm muted guitar is barely audible but ominously wanders the outskirts of the synth, which is slowly getting bigger as we drift towards Rob Alexander’s exuberant vocal. His latest single “Long Road Coming Home” starts off patiently, but it doesn’t take very long for it to come undone from the gravity of Alexander’s rousing musicianship. “I find a gift to give you every day, and never look back at the years in between” he serenades, each word dripping with a honey-like melodicism that is instantly recognizable as unique and exclusive to his brand of adult contemporary pop alone.

With a kick of the drums, Alexander plainly informs us that though this road of life that we’re all traveling together is tough as nails and never getting any shorter than it is today, we’re going to have to press on if we have any hope of realizing who we really are when we’re at our most exposed. Home is where the heart is, and he’s willing to take us there if it means we all get a little closer together in the end. His voice echoes off of the percussion and melodies that are swirling relentlessly in the foreground, and it’s all too easy for us to get hypnotized by the harmony that is being conjured in the beautiful chaos that we’re witnessing firsthand.

SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/track/4tBA3jJm4HHZrSz6eVniJ0

Everything almost comes apart as we shift into the next stanza, but Alexander makes sure to reel us in from the fire before we get burned by the flames. Every note in “Long Road Coming Home” has its place, and even when the song starts to rock in the second chorus nothing ever escapes from where it was intended to sit. Rob Alexander is a very meticulous composer, and so far I haven’t found any of his music to be shapeless or off the wall in the least. As much as people say that today’s pop music fan demands elaborate songwriting that incorporates as many savage accents and twisted overdubs as possible, there’s something really satisfying about listening to a song like this one, which relies only on its self-conscious lyrics and literate textures to make fans fall in love with its grandeur.

“Long Road Coming Home” concludes in operatic fashion, fading into the ethers in a tizzy of bluesy guitar, symphonic synths and closing lyrics sung to us in a half-whisper. Devoid of the malevolent self-centeredness of the average pop single and packed with powerful melodies, ornate verses and a playful harmony that demands a reaction out of anyone within earshot, the fourth single from Rob Alexander’s debut album of the same name is yet another graceful effort from the Florida-based singer/songwriter, who is turning out to be one of 2018’s hidden treasures. Music enthusiasts who crave the soft rocking sway of traditional piano pop with the edge of modern adult contemporary would do well to give this song a spin.

I-TUNES: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/long-road-coming-home/1348846070

Joshua Beach

The music of Rob Alexander has been heard all over the world due to the promotional services offered by Danie Cortese Entertainment & Publicity. Learn more here - http://www.daniecorteseent.com/

Abby Zotz - Local Honey

URL: https://abbyzmusic.com/

This generous, sunlit record left me feeling like a plant that had been watered. Abby Zotz’s Local Honey is a lot of things, but among those is an ideal listening experience for those times when misfortune seems to be bearing down from every side and heartache is a daily reality. It will pick you up out of the mire. It isn’t filled with cuddly sentiments or soft-pedaled clichés and tropes, but the cumulative effect of this collection is to state, once more, that life has its difficulties, its ups and down, and it behooves us to bear them with whatever grace we can muster and turn our eyes towards moving on. The production for this album brings out every thread of color into sharp relief without every belaboring one aspect over another – balance is an obvious watchword and it pays off with a fully realized solo debut.

A strong sense of inspiration fills many of the songs and influences their energy. “Stability” is one such song and the album’s first. It kicks off Local Honey with some hard won, but enormously affectation sentiments gaining a lot from Zotz’s upper register emotion. She embodies the song’s emotional peaks with such detailed, measured simplicity that it cuts right through your defenses and draws blood. You have to know what instability is before you can write about recognizing some stabilizing force in your own life. The perhaps unexpected sound of an organ opens “Big Hope” and the song embraces a full band arrangement from the first. The spring in this song’s step gets a lot of its air time from the organ, a constant underlying presence in the song, and some electric guitar puts added teeth in the song.

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/events/1597048430528970/

Gospel is the guiding influence behind “Peace Sweet Peace”, but there’s no denying it has a jazzy tilt on it that may play unexpected for some. The spartan, well spaced arrangement gives Zotz ample room to work her magic. She captures our attention with a smokier vocal tone than previous songs, playing to the song’s bluesy roots, and the obvious dexterity of her voice is a marvel to me. The gently undulating pastoral sweep of “Good Bones” has an underrated commercial edge – this song wouldn’t be at all out of place on either retro or modern country radio. The vocals are exquisitely arranged.

“Be Here Now” is an ode of a sort to mindfulness and rates, in my mind, as one of the album’s best lyrics. Zotz has an unerring instinct for characterization coming through these words and the inevitable pay off with many of the verses has just the right amount of symmetry and unity. The song’s bridge and instrumental breaks neatly dovetail into the song as well. There’s a bubbling rhythm bringing “Sea Change” to life and Zotz’s voice has a spectral, almost ghostly aura. The same ghostliness runs though “All Through the Night” with an added dash of stately lyricism and vocal harmonies. “You’ll Never Know” ends Local Honey with another echo of jazz influences coming through the tune and the good natured gaze she casts vocally over the song’s bittersweet lyric makes it all the more appealing. Abby Zotz’s first appearance as a solo recording artist is the peak of her musical journey so far and stands to propel her art in a whole new direction.

AMAZON: https://www.amazon.com/Local-Honey-Abby-Zotz/dp/B07G31SW56

Joshua Beach