NERO now also available on Spotify

by Neronia | Jan 17, 2016 | Uncategorized

Our new Album NERO now also available on Spotify.

https://open.spotify.com/album/6L5oAcfZbWfSPDAj49wh90

David Bowie – Blackstar

by Angelo Hulshout | Jan 16, 2016 | Uncategorized

When I ordered David Bowie’s Blackstar at the end of 2015, I was excited – looking forward to reviewing the album, as my first review of 2016. I was never a big fan of Bowie, until just over a year ago, and it was magical to discover his first 14 albums while getting the announcements of a new album that was ‘going to be different than anything he’d done before’. The video for the title track, and the audio track for Lazarus, which only got video added the day before the album was released, certainly showed that Bowie was up to something very new. Electronic music, with a jazzy, avant garde feel to it, and weird images of a blind folded Bowie in the video – indeed things he had never done before.

After getting to hear his 80s work, which I didn’t like at all at the time, and discovering his 60s and 70s releases 30 years later, I can only confirm the obvious: Bowie was a chameleon, and very eclectic artist. Writing in past tense here, only a week after the release of Blackstar gives me the shivers. I’ve never been witness to something as unexpected as Bowie’s death, two days after releasing this magical album. Magical, and obviously created by a man who was aware of what was going to happen, but not ready to stop exploiting his own brilliant creativity.

With a lot of things in the world going bad, a lot of discussion was happening about the meaning of Blackstar, when the video was first released. Was it about IS, or about aliens, or something else? Either way, it is dark, electronic track, opening with haunting, twisted vocals in the first part, and a sound that is almost threatening. The switch to a more ‘classical’ Bowie vocal half way for a few minutes is just fitting, as well as the bit of saxophone at the end. Title track, and opening track to a short musical journey.

‘Tis A Pity She Was a Whore, also released as a single earlier is more upbeat, and has the saxophone sound in it from the beginning. With a title like this, it’s pretty clear that despite his distinguished looks off late, Bowie was never part of the politically correct establishment – always a rebel. This track is good old Bowie on moderne electronic jazz with a beat, and with his typical knack for lyrics. The almost out of tune sax work is ear catching once again.

On par in terms of darkness and thread with Blackstar, is Lazarus. A slow track that opens with sax, keys and a characteristic bass line. As became clear in the past week, this track was a farewell message from David Bowie to his listeners. Slow, musical and with Bowie’s emotional vocals, it gets the message across. His life, his ambitions, his goodby – packed again in typical Bowie lyrical style:

“This way or no way
You know, I’ll be free
Just like that bluebird
Now ain’t that just like me”

The dark, haunting beat with occasional riffs at the end, with no vocals, makes the listener feel the gap of Bowie being gone.

The opening riff of Sue (Or in a Season of Crime) which follows is a little more rocky, but is soon followed again by the electronic jazz sounds of Donny McLaslin’s quartet, a band selected and hired by Bowie for this album. Slow and dark, with an almost danceable pulse, the music carries Bowie’s vocal. Singing about a Sue, who has disappeared – without ever getting it clear whether she died or went to another man.

After the closing notes of Sue, Bowie comes in singing something that sounds like a hysterical children’s rhyme at first, as a slow beat kicks in. This is Girl Loves Me, which has an almost industrial feel to the music, also due to the vocal effects. After January 10th, the repeating closing line ‘Where the fuck did Monday go’ is burned in my brain.

Dollar Days is a song that could’ve fit on one of his 70s albums, it has a great feel to it and features a wonderful saxophone solo by Donny McCaslin. Lyrically, it covers everything gone wrong in the world, if one is prepared to ‘listen through the lines’.

The follower I Can’t Give Everything Away is possibly another hint at what was going to happen, Bowie singing about something being wrong and not being able to say more. Initially, the music very brielfy hints Tonight, due to the beat, but the saxophone and guitar change it back to fit with the style of the rest of the album. A mesmerising, hypnotic track to close a great album.

David Bowie was a very special artist. He changed styles more often than some people change underwear you could say, and most of it worked. Some artists go on and burn out, a lot go on for too long. Bowie never stopped, just started taking his time, and following time. This time, he managed to show how music can still progress, by mixing electronics, jazz, hip-hop and a hint of his own 70s work. If an artist has to go out on a  high, delivering a master piece, David Bowie has shown how to do it here. May he rest in peace and be with us forever.

Dedicated to the memory of David Bowie, a great artist. With a special thank you to my good friend Sonia Mota, possibly his biggest fan ever, for introducing me to his early works, 30 years late.

Also published on my blog http://www.angelosrockorphanage.com

Music Video “Raindrops”

by Neronia | Jan 16, 2016 | Uncategorized

Check out our new #Music #Video “Raindrops” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbL2ilaGhXI … … from our current album NERO.

Anuryzm Releases New Official Music Video 199X

by blake | Jan 15, 2016 | Uncategorized

199X is the New Official Music Video from Anuryzm taken from the bands latest release “All Is Not For All”

According to the band the new music video “199X” is a homage to the 90′s!! Skateboard culture, retro video gaming, summer jobs and of course the hot girl next door crush!! All these elements culminate in catchy riffs and heartfelt lyrics as the band pay tribute to a period in time which they feel very influenced by.

“Back then, metal was seeing an emergence from glam and speed/thrash to more groove-inspired and technical songwriting structure” explains John Bakhos, Lead Guitarist.

“John and I really forged our skills covering a lot of 90s metal when we were in high school, and the atmosphere of brotherhood among metal bands back then on those awesome summer tours, really inspired us to tell our 90s story, growing up in the U.A.E, while simultaneously paying tribute to the atmosphere and creativity of the time period.” according to Nadeem Michel Bibby, vocalist.

“The older we get; and as we befriend many of our 90s musical heroes, the more we realize that they grew up with hopes and dreams just like us and most importantly, the drive to innovate and inspire.

JAY TAUSIG IS BACK, WITH ” HERE! “

by KIM SOLI | Jan 14, 2016 | Uncategorized

Album Cover Art By:  ED UNITSKY

     Coincidentally, in the wake of DAVID BOWIE’S DEATH, our very own SPACE ROCK MAESTRO, JAY TAUSIG, who’s LATEST RELEASE, had PLEASED THE SPIRIT OF THE WHITE DUKE, with HONOR & STRENGTH.  

     Here’s how Mr. Tausig had described the concept of ” HERE: ”  

“ This is a concept album that was written and recorded in about 2-3 weeks December of 2015. “

     “ I did not intend for it to be so, It just fell together in a very magical way, one song after the next… 40 of them in fact. “

     “ The general topics are Relationships, Love, Loss, Death, Fulfillment, The Mystical Nature of things, and finding that the light at the end of the tunnel is always… Here. “

     “ During the course of these recordings, I was not really keeping track of how many things were being laid down. “

     “ The intention from the start, was to create a series of tunes that were not band songs, but solo songs, that could be realistically played live, without the assistance of other instrumentation.  So these songs are “stripped down” in a way.  The arrangements are based on the Guitar/ Vocal or Piano / Vocal, which were recorded Live most of the time.  The instruments I chose to accompany these performances were Cello, Violin, Alto and Tenor Sax, Pennywhistle, Clarinet, Bass, and Mellotron.  “

     “ The mixing of this record was a challenge, in the sense that I recorded the songs in a way, so that there were no silences in between songs, to give the feel of a continuous flow.  I ended up breaking things apart at the end, due to inconsistencies of the EQ settings, etc…But, I think it all ended up in the way I was hoping anyway… “

     “ I’ll come back to this ‘ About, ‘ section and add some further insight soon… Life beckons. “

TO ORDER THIS ALBUM, FOR ONLY $10 USD, CLICK ONTO HIS BANDCAMP LINK: https://jaytausig.bandcamp.com/album/here

David Bowie | Blackstar | The Swansong

by Robert 'Unlce Prog' Brady | Jan 14, 2016 | Uncategorized

David Bowie | Blackstar | The Swansong 

In Memory Of David Robert Jones / David Bowie { January. 8th, 1947 – January, 10th, 2016}

Label: Sony/RCA
Release Date: 2016
Country: United Kingdom
Genre: Classic Rock, Glam Rock, Pop Rock, Jazz

David Bowie Official Website

David Bowie Official Facebook

David Bowie Official Twitter

David Bowie Official Youtube Channel

I come to you with the heaviest of hearts. At the time I was in process of reviewing this album, I never realised it would be part album review , part eulogy. Unlike people such as Lemmy Kilmister of Motorhead or a Warren Zevon where they made their illness and potential passing public, David Bowie decided to make it a more covert private affair. It was due to the desire for privacy that would make his final album Blackstar so potent in both its melodic and lyrical foundations.

Blackstar is considered by many as a ‘Parting Gift’ to the fans. That can be justified easily. One can question whether or not Blackstar was a self fulfilling prophetic and creative statement. If it was and I stress ‘IF’ it was , David Bowie made one of the most profound of last statements on a musical and creative level I ever heard in my life. One can only imagine how his health effected his songwriting during the creation of Blackstar as well.

Throughout the span of a 51 year career David Bowie was one of those artists who never ever did the same thing over and over again yet was still able to not only make something relevant but to create something genre bending at the same time. Musical genres included in the 51 year career run the spectrum from Art Rock, Progressive Rock, Glam Rock, Jazz, Blues, Pop Rock, etc … Bowie always managed to change his sound totally with every new release without abandoning his fan base. Blackstar is the complete package of all those genres mentioned above with serious introspection and self reflection. 

In his 51 year career David Bowie had a uncanny ability reading the tea leaves and sensing the sea changes of the music industry. I believe this contributed to his uncanny ability to make a different style and genre of record he had released to the global fan base. I also see this ability as reason why his fan base never dwindled and progressively grew from generation to generation. Whether you are a Baby Boomer, Generation X or even a  Millennial, David Bowie managed to make a quality and unique project that spoke to any generation.  While some of his peers and contemporaries in the music industry experienced lulls or even periods of inactivity, David Bowie seemed to roll with the changes and adapt to the culture at any time.  I will not do a typical breakdown of each track of the album like I normally would. With that said here is a summary of Blackstar as I observe it.

Blackstar has many dark ambient elements. There is some great jazz undertones that run side by side with the rhythm section with lush ambient vocal atmospheres. Blackstar also presents elements of eclectic progressive rock in a minimalist setting and groove. There are some blues portions as well. Blackstar was written as if Bowie was reflecting of his 69 years here on Earth. I also see Bowie going out on his own terms musically the way he always operated when he was with us in the flesh. 

He wrote, recorded, performed, toured all on his own terms. It is perfectly fitting that the ‘Parting Gift’ of Blackstar was his own Eulogy. Many will write commentary on this Genius’ life however the best commentary is from himself on Blackstar. Although David Bowie did not go out on his own terms he certainly left us one last recording on his own terms.  With the passing of David Bowie, I believe we are now truly in a time where An Era Is Ending.  Ziggy I will look for your star shining down upon us from the heavens tonight. Thank you for the music and film you left for us and for many generations to come.