New Artist Alert: Fenrir - Live Like Royalty

Hailing from Suffolk, UK, Fenrir are a five-piece alternative rock outfit who have recently released their debut 6-track EP 'Live Like Royalty'. Produced by Oliver Craggs (Feed the Rhino) at Hidden Tracks Studios, the quintet are bringing a "punchy and impressive sound" to the UK music scene in 2013. The band will be touring over the summer in support of the new record, having recently finished a co-headline tour around the UK with Searching Alaska.

I'm eased into the EP with opener Victory Rose as bluesy lead guitar tones with a gentle delay guide the listener in. A slight rhythm is established as the track builds, with choral backing vocals marking the progression before an explosive introduction opens up with that promised 'punch'. As instrumental openers go, it's a great start to the EP and really sets the band's stall out, whilst the segue into 'Haven't You Heard' is flawless. With aggressive guitars and crystal-clear production on the drums, this is a really polished effort. The vocals take an octave leap into the chorus as the track builds in intensity, dipping again slightly for a return to the verse. The chorus is so full of guitar tracks and harmonsied vocals but it doesn't feel overly-crowded, it's a great piece of song-writing.

'The Puppeteer' opens as aggressively as its predecessors before changing tact and switching to a major-sounding picky guitar part; the rhythm section maintain solidity throughout as the guitars and vocals again open up for the chorus to really pack a musical punch.

Closing the EP is 'Confessions', maintaining the progressive energy displayed throughout the record. The track leads from an extended vocal and electric guitar intro before everything kicks in around the one minute mark. It's a strong finisher, following the tried-and-tested formula that has seen the band through so effectively on the EP; it's a fantastic debut offering and a very exciting prospect for the UK music scene as pop-punk is starting to fade away into the background making space for it's bigger, more brutal, brother and this brother pulls no punches.

The EP is available to stream on Spotify and Bandcamp where you can purchase a copy of it. 'Live Like Royalty' is also available for sale on iTunes; be sure to keep up to date with the band for info on their summer tour. You can check out the video for 'Confessions' below. Enjoy :)

New Artist Alert: Doug Panton

Today marks the release date for Doug Panton's self-titled debut EP, available across most digital platforms worldwide. 19 year old Panton, an Essex-based singer-songwriter, has spent the best part of a year creating and producing his debut offering and is excited for his first release to finally be available, after a DIY background of accumulating fans from YouTube and at his live shows - a highlight of which includes performing for 15,000 people at the International Jamboree 2012. Panton has already been rubbing shoulders with some of the industry bigwigs including Mark Topham (Westlife, Il Divo) and Dave Scott (Oasis) having had the EP produced by the latter alongside Atomic Kitten engineers at Brook Lodge Studio. With some national radio airplay in his back pocket also, Panton is hoping his self-titled record is going to continue turning heads and attract some critical acclaim, and it seems to me as if he's well on the way to achieving just that.

It's all pretty impressive on paper, but what about where it really matters? Thankfully, Panton delivers musically as much as he does elsewhere; the EP kicks off with Young, introduced by some frantic finger-picking on an acoustic guitar and some Bastille-esque choral backing vocals. Panton's vocal is perfectly suited to today's pop market and sits confidently on top of the mix, leading the charge in a particularly pleasant opening track; it often reminds me of Ed Sheeran when melodically trailing off of the end of some of the notes and sets the scene for the EP effectively.

All or Nothing is sitting pretty halfway through, the trademark ballad-feel and tribal percussion making themselves known whilst the chorus is as strong as its predecessors in consideration of the genre; there definitely feels as if there's a film soundtrack in here somewhere. The piano drives this track, with some sparse lead-guitar work dropping in every so often to add another melodic layer as I'm again reminded of an Ed Sheeran b-side - surely not a bad comparison by any means.

Closing the show is Agree to Disagree; notably more major-feeling than minor, this feel-good finale relies on the vocals to carry the melody which they do well atop a simple chord progression. I feel the production is key on this track; although the chorus is packed a little fuller than the verses, it still maintains the light, floating feel to the track and is revisited often. It's just what is needed and rounds off the EP nicely whilst holding on to that sing-along, radio-friendly feel that has been established since track one.

The EP is available online now, and be sure to keep up to date with Doug via his Facebook page. In the meantime, enjoy this short teaser video to sample the EP for yourself, a try before you buy if you like. Enjoy.

New Artist Alert: Lucas Hardy - The Blood, Sweat & Tears EP

Followers of this blog will be aware how heavily the Southampton-based kings of pop-punk The City Calls have featured over the years. Unfortunately their reign has since ended but front-man Lucas Hardy is back with his debut solo project.

The Blood, Sweat & Tears EP has shown a real DIY back-to-basics approach for Hardy, who put his name to all aspects of the creation and production of the project, taking him back to his roots and reminding him where it all began. With this great responsibility also comes complete control, which has enabled Hardy to produce something he is proud to release and tour in support of.

The EP kicks off with its title track, a chugging acoustic guitar complemented by falsetto-style vocals, as it progresses with melodic lead-lines and some great harmonious backing vocals. Track 2, City by the Sea, establishes a more rhythmic feel thanks to the acoustic guitar part, with the lyrics surely a nod to a life left behind in Southampton. It's a casual, simple ballad, with the lead vocals often complemented nicely with harmonies and supported by a particularly memorable sing-along chorus. 'Bug' has a different feel still, heavily vocal-led with an upbeat intro which parts for more relaxed verses before the choruses pick up further, progressing the track nicely. The listener's interest is definitely maintained well with the exploration of both predictable and interesting vocal harmonies; it's no easy task to do this with an acoustic singer/songwriter record but Hardy has effectively demonstrated how this is possible without relying on a sole feel and tempo all the way through. Sail Faith closes the record with an electro/synth accompaniment to the lead vocals which themselves grow with confidence as the EP does. The track completes the circle cleverly, returning to the narrowly-textured ballad but still with its own style and feel.

The potential danger with this EP, especially with such a recognisably distinctive vocal such as Hardy's, is that is could have sounded like an acoustic TCC calls record but it really doesn't; Hardy has established himself as a great songwriter and solo artist in his own right with this project which I'm confident will earn him a loyal fanbase and great foundations to continue the next chapter of his career.

The Blood, Sweat & Tears EP is released in the UK on Friday 31st May, so be sure to keep in touch with Lucas via his Facebook page for all the details. Lucas is playing next at Wight Rock Bar on the Isle of Wight on June 22nd; for all future gigs keep your eye on the Facebook page.

New Artist Alert: Fauntella Crow - Just Try

I'm very pleased to share with you Fauntella Crow, an indie/folk duo from LA, who combine delicate vocals, violins, and keyboards to create a sound worthy of being a SXSW featured artist this year. Jessy Greene, one half of the band, has also toured and recorded violins for highly prestigious artists such as Foo Fighters, Pink, and R.E.M., whilst other half Sunday Lane is an old hat performer for iHeartRadio and Coachella.

But enough about the past, Just Try is the stunning new song from Greene and Lane, known together as Fauntella Crow. The accompanying video is featured below, which adds a whole new level to the song. Opening with a slow-pulsing violin and simple piano ostinato, the closely-harmonising vocals soon follow, establishing the foundations of Just Try. The lead vocals are lovely on their own, and only enhanced when supported; the track is a slow-burner but suitably so, it tiptoes along held aloft by a minimalist violin part and the feel of an old Damien Rice number. The track grows slowly without notice like a flower, gaining a slight momentum as it progresses, and it's only when it's over do you realise this. It's a lovely track, and one that is both potentially commercial and intricately personal.

Check out the video for Just Try below, and be sure to keep up with the girls on Facebook. Enjoy :)

New Artist Alert: Noah Gopen

Every now and then, something a little different springs into my email box that catches my eye and it's always nice to share something a little refreshing. Not only is this the case with Noah Gopen, singer/songwriter from Massachusetts, but his new instrumental album, outline, is up for sale with half of the proceeds going to charity.

Gopen is splitting his royalties with cancer-supporting charity Love Hope Strength and victims of the devastating Boston Marathon bombings. Outline also features Turkish musician Cemre and, as Cemre describes, 'simple and humble' certainly spring to mind on my first listen.

Title track 'Outline' slowly builds in steps, with a simple piano and strings accompaniment introducing the track before a gentle right-hand melody leads us from the pleasant to the dissonant and back again. The track has a waltz-feel to it, swaying with a mix of time signatures and moods but always progressing. 'The River Flows' showcase Gopen's great acoustic guitar playing, whilst upbeat and classical-sounding Strings provides a little stylistic contrast. The album as a whole readily crosses genres and feels, with flavours of jazz, classical, and spanish-sounds to name but a few. It feels raw and poetic; look out for a surprise cover of Adele's Someone Like You which features a really lovely vocal.

I wish Gopen and Cemre well in their journey, and am very happy to share some very enjoyable music and such a worthy cause. Do visit the artist page here where you can listen to and purchase tracks or the whole album, where half the proceeds will go straight to charity.

Enjoy :)

Alexander Album Release - 'Say Hello'

You may remember our feature last month of UK indie rockers Alexander who, having recently signed to I Am Mighty Records, were pushing the release of their debut single 'You Lost Yourself'. As promised in the post, the Geordie quartet are set to release debut album 'Say Hello' on the 26/04/13 and I've had a sneaky listen to album-preview video (which is also available for you to listen to below).

Maybe I'm Wrong, track 2, sounds like one to listen out for, with picky guitar arpeggios and sandy-sounding half-time drums driving this guitar ballad whilst lead single You Lost Yourself sits confidently at track 3. Dividing the indie-rockers is acoustic ballad A Sweet Song which sounds particularly pleasant, before Bloc Party-sounding Vapour Trails picks things back up whilst the reverse guitar and uplifting feel of Old Fashioned Romance at the end of album stands out to me as the strongest track. The production and the song-writing is as good and current as the single suggested, however I feel the real stand-out tracks on this album are the slower ones; although the band seems to feel more at home with the energetic, indie-pop tracks, I sense a real calling with the half-time feels and obscure lead-guitar parts ringing out at the back of the mix.

This is, of course, just my humble opinion; why not decide for yourself and have a listen to the album-preview video below. If you like what you hear, be sure to support our up and coming artists and get hold of a copy from iTunes here when it drops on Friday.

Observing the Ghost: Burn the Tsunami

Back on British shores, Observing the Ghost are flying the flag for the South Coast here in the UK. You may remember their feature on the blog back in September last year; founded in early 2011, the quartet have been busy making a name for themselves touring and releasing, and 4th April saw the release of 'Burn the Tsunami', the band's first album since debut EP 'We Will Find The Sun'. The band have since performed at the O2 Academy Islington, supported Placebo drummer Steve Forrest's new side project, and signed to Coffee Jingle Records.

'Fragile' is the first track from 'Burn the Tsunami', kicking off the album with a definite nod to a string of great influences including Incubus, The Mars Volta, and Placebo. Technically it's a great track; really tight with its odd pushes in the extended intro but the vocals may not be to everyone's tastes, they feel a little strained in the higher register at times. Musically its a little disorientating but of course in a good way with an informed choice of dissonant chords as the listener is pulled from left to right in time with the ebbs and flows of the feels and genres explored. Halfway through, there's a great extended musical section akin to Incubus' 'Sick Sad Little World' as the guitar twists and winds, leading confidently whilst the rhythm section hold everything down and leads us back to some slight familiarity. It's quite a lengthy track, owed to the solo section in the middle, but sounds great and is a strong opener which sets the scene well for the rest of the album.

You can keep up to date with Observing the Ghost on Facebook, whilst 'Burn the Tsunami' is available now on iTunes, Spotify, and Amazon.