‘SOMETHING FOR THE WEEKEND?’
COSMIC EMBERS are an Irish psychedelic rock band you’ve probably never heard of.
But that will change following the release of debut single, ’Apocalypse in Metropolis,’ quite possibly 2022’s ‘Single of the Year.’
There is no other family in Ireland making music like this – there probably isn’t a family like this anywhere in the world.
In the summer of 2021 Paddy O’Keeffe picked up a guitar in the company of his talented nephew, bassist Adam Walsh. Before they knew it, ten months had passed and not only had they written countless songs, they’d also recruited Adam’s father, Anto.
’Apocalypse in Metropolis’, serves as a manifesto for what the band is capable of, even already. A cautionary but humorous tale about readapting to life in society after growing happily accustomed to isolation.
The song was inspired in part by George Romero’s zombie films, ‘Dawn of The Dead’ and ‘Land Of The Dead.’ O’Keeffe croons in his low baritone about, “…creeping around corners – and staying out of sight.” His delivery is convicted, with his tongue planted firmly in his cheek.
Anto Walsh’s drums are a rock-solid core to the track, while his son Adam’s command of the bass guitar is obvious. Layers of sound build throughout, climaxing in a real Theremin featured late in the track.
I’ve not been as excited about an Irish band since The Undertones released ‘Teenage Kicks.’ Come and pay the Cosmic Embers a visit. The psychedelic kettle is on.
“We won’t have to hide when we make it to the other side.”
Learn more here: Cosmic Embers – Apocalypse in Metropolis (hearnow.com)
T W O
EARLIER this year Vancouver’s ERIK DANIEL released his 5-track EP, ‘No Time Like The Present.’
In all honesty, it didn’t work for me.
But his new indie-rock album, ‘Guilty Party,’ has been playing on repeat since it dropped into the mailbox last month, and it’s probably one of the best albums I’ve heard in 2022.
“I think, as a whole, the album is about transformation, about redefining ourselves and breaking through the limitations we – or others – may impose,” explained Daniel.
“Even within this theme, the songs range from positive, ‘Never The Same Again,’ to defiant ‘Not Who I Am Anymore.’ I think this reflects my own path to becoming a musician – a pursuit that’s been simmering for a long time, but only now coming to light.”
You’re going to need to invest some serious time in this project, there’s a whopping 12 songs here, but listen to them all you should. And I mean listen. Don’t dip in and out of a couple before moving on to something else – your time will be rewarded in the greatest way imaginable as you welcome these exemplary songs into your world. For all time, not just the weekend.
‘Asking A Lot,’ gets us underway with its understated ‘spaghetti western’ vibes – vibes which I’m pleased to announce delicately wind themselves into other parts of the album.
The soul of Stewart Copeland is audible at times, as is the wonderful eccentricity of Jonathan Richman, the genius of The Eels and ‘60s abandon and creativity of The Animals.
It’s a contemplative, deeply personal compilation, boosted by an anger that’s never far from the surface.
“The most meaningful track on the album to me is also the most literal,” adds Daniel.
‘Broken Record’ covers a cancer diagnosis and treatment I went through a few years back – all good now, by the way – and in a lot of ways that experience shifted my perspective on life and helped motivate me to follow what I’m passionate about.”
Sometimes you need the music of people you don’t know in your lives. This is one of those occasions.
Home – Erik Daniel (erikdanielmusic.com)
T H R E E
WEST WALES-based indie trio SKY BARKERS announce the beginning of the summer with their magnificent new single, ‘Give You Love.’
Joanna MacGregor Messore, Dan Messore and Matt Brown, produce groove based, hook heavy, vocal laden music – lyrically connective and energy driven, rooted in song writing, but with a somewhat skewed edge.
“’Give You Love’ is a celebration and rebellion song,” said Jo MacGregor.
“We wrote it during one of the lockdowns and it’s really just about loving – honestly and wildly, which in the current climate seems an act of necessary rebellion. Letting love be the force that courses through you and blasts you out of apathy, fear, whatever.
“But we’ve got to dare to be vulnerable enough to let it in, to feel it for real, and so many of us have big old bags of pain in the way. But in those moments when we really connect and let this incredible force tingle through us – it’s pretty wild. And we need it like water.”
‘Give You Love’ is the bands second offering writing as this current trio, following on from first single ‘Beholden to None’. And the good news? You can expect a full EP once summer begins its gentle descent towards the autumn.
Further information: Beast PR 🇺🇦 (@BeastPRUK) / Twitter
F O U R
EL GOODO guitarist and songwriter ‘PIXY JONES’ has selected the swaggering ‘I’m Not There’ as the first single to be taken from his forthcoming ‘Bits n Bobs’ album.
The new single, accompanied by a magical version of Beatles track, ‘And Your Bird Can Sing’ as the B-side, is released digitally today, with ‘Bits n Bobs’ due for release on September 16 via Strangetown Records.
Branching away from the familiar El Goodo platform, Welsh psych scene stalwart Pixy Jones has compiled a remarkable collection of tracks that fluctuate from 60’s harmony-rich psych pop to Alt-Country with ringing, tremolo guitar.
“The album was originally intended as a solo project under the pseudonym of ‘Wallace Russell,” said Jones.
“I recorded it alongside the recording of Zombie (El Goodo) whenever I could get in the studio. There are some old songs that have always been overlooked for ‘El Goodo’ albums for one reason or another, a few new ones which I wrote specifically for this, and a couple that would have probably ended up on the intended double album version of Zombie if we’d kept going with the double album idea.
“I’ve since ditched the ‘Wallace Russell’ name and gone back to Pixy Jones as I figured there’s no need to have a pseudonym if nobody knows who you are in the first place. Even though I dropped the name I’ve kept the walrus mask for now as it is more photogenic than my actual face.
“I had no recording budget so I had to fund it by quitting smoking and saving the money up to pay for studio time. It took, I think, two and a half years to record, which is by far the quickest I’ve ever recorded an album. Would have been quicker too if it wasn’t for Covid!
“Originally I wanted it to just be a quickly recorded slap dash and get it out sort of thing but I had a year and a half during Covid to think about it a bit more and ended up taking more care to get it done properly. It was just me there, so I played most of it myself apart from Stephen Black (Sweet Baboo) who played brass and woodwind on one song, and Rhodri Brooks (AhGeeBe) plays some pedal steel on a couple.
“Elliott and Canny from ‘El Goodo’ played drums and bass on ‘Wind Street’ during the Zombie recording sessions.
“The album was recorded and mixed in Aerial Studios with Tim Lewis, (Thighpaulsandra), and a couple of songs were finished in the house during the lockdowns.”
Bits n Bobs | Pixy Jones (bandcamp.com)
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(Fancy appearing in a future edition of ‘Something For The Weekend?’ Get in touch, tell us why, and we’ll see what we can do.)
