Julien Dyne
Glmpse
Rythmethod
If you enjoy vocals, lyrics, hooks, riffs and melodies, Julien Dyne’s Glimpse isn’t for you. But if you like being challenged by music, if you’re partial to a spot of abstract jazz, and if you want to give your ears a workout, these nineteen beat-driven tracks will be right up your alley.
Grant P Chilcott
Sings Mitchell Parish
Ode Records
Grant P Chilcott, also known as Wentworth Brewster, has been keeping the torch of crooner-style singing aflame in New Zealand for twenty five years. He’s recorded with The New Zealand Symphony Orchestra Strings, performed with the Auckland Philharmonic Orchestra, and sung in exotic countries around the world. In this album he turns his talents to re-imagining the songs of Mitchell Parish (1900 – 1993), the Lithuania-born immigrant turned Tin Pan Alley lyricist.
Vintage Trouble
The Bomb Shelter Sessions
Shock
With their mid-century recording techniques and influences, Hollywood-based Vintage Trouble are certainly retro, but they’re not up to much mischief. Sounding like The Detroit Cobras without Rachel Nagy’s cut-loose vocals or The Black Keys without the devil-may-care attitude, Vintage Trouble have a hot look but their brand of rock n’ soul lacks heat.
Ana Tijoux
La Bala
France received many political refugees during Augusto Pinochet’s dictatorship of Chile during the 1970s and 80s. In 1977 Anamaria Merino was born in Paris to an exiled Chilean father and a French mother. In the 90s democracy was restored to Chile and the Merino family relocated there, where Anamaria changed her name to Ana Tijoux and immersed herself in the hip hop scene. Tijoux fronted rap group Makiza before striking it out on her own with impressive results (her second album, 1977, was nominated for a Grammy).