Something For The Weekend?
WORKING out of the small coastal town of Port Macquarie, New South Wales, Royal Chant are without question Australia’s current best kept secret. In fact, it’s such a secret it would appear Australia haven’t grasped exactly how good the band are. Yet.
Formed in 2009 by ex-pat American Mark Spence, with Wade Mobbs joining the band on drums in 2017, they have functioned as a two-piece since 2019, releasing consistently outstanding music with audacious regularity — yet to date they have been denied the success their musicianship and songs deserve.
Hopefully that all changes with the release of their latest single, ‘Sowing Doubt In Magnetic Fields.’
“The song was originally conceived while out for a stroll during the early days of the Delta outbreak lockdowns here in Australia,” explained Spence.
“It started with a descending melody/bass line — that wasn’t used in the final piece — and then the song title came. The words came somewhat quickly but still required a bit of care, as there’s a certain deliberate quality to them that I felt was important to get exactly right. In the end it’s a meditation of sorts: on being human, on loss, on our smallness and temporary place here in the universe, and, I suppose, on love and how it sustains us. The whole song is a giant sweeping gesture if that makes sense?”
This song is an epic, it doesn’t just smoulder, it’s a raging inferno from start to finish. And if you’re in need of an explanation of the phrase ‘Wall of Sound,’ look no further. This is it. Sadly, that phrase is tossed around so much these days it’s in danger of becoming irrelevant. Few recognise the values that come attached to it. Royal Chant are not making that mistake. Producers — budding or otherwise — please listen and take note for future reference.
That the duo find it in themselves to consistently produce and release music of this magnitude — to what appears an ambivalent antipodean audience — is beyond comprehension. The very least they deserve is our gratitude, our attention, and our continuing support.
Learn more about Royal Chant:
T W O
THE KINTNERS, purveyors of the finest Southern, Gothic, Alt Country musical mash up known to man, saw out the old year and celebrated the arrival of the new by releasing not one, but two of their trademark Americana classics, ‘Tomorrow’s Another Day’ and ‘Smoke and Mud.’
Texas-based husband and wife duo Kelly and Keri specialise in songs of people and places who have crossed their paths over the years, but whilst they may draw on Bob Dylan and The Grateful Dead for inspiration, theirs is truly a unique sound.
Electing to collaborate with some of Twitter’s finest musicians and producers, the Kintner’s embraced the finer points of their allies, yet maintained their own distinctive style.
‘Tomorrow’s Another Day’ features: keys by Kev Sharp (@ThisMightBeMus1) harmonica by OrangeG (@orangegmusic) lead guitar from The Godzilla Attacks Tokyo Kamikaze Blues Band @TheGodzillaAtt1 with production courtesy of @mixedbyadam
“I wrote ‘Tomorrows Another Day’ when I was a kid,” said Kelly. “I don’t really remember, it is kinda’ sarcastic. I hate ‘Gone With The Wind’ and that phrase too. The character is saying it, shrugging his shoulders.
“I’ve been writing songs for a long time. I’ve also managed to write a lot of songs with a lot of people, but I don’t share everything I write. Now that my wife helps, especially with editing, I feel like it gives the songs a ‘vibe.’ Nothing goes out the door that we don’t want to listen to over and over, ourselves.”
For his part, Pennsylvania-based ‘Godzilla’ explains how the song was brought to life by the various performers.
“So, Kelly Kinter heard the song I did with @orangegmusic called ‘Just a Lonely Man’ and asked if we would like to work on a song he had called ‘Tomorrow’s Another Day,’ he said.
“He said he wanted to have that live ‘bar band’ feel. He sent me an acoustic guitar track, his vocals and backing vocals and I added electric guitars, drums, bass and then OrangeG added the harmonica.
“Kelly and I worked together to get the final mix and we released the song and made a video. Later last year Kelly decided to do a new mix and that’s how the second version came about.”
The second new song, ‘Smoke and Mud’ has an altogether different feel, although retains that unmistakably familiar Kinter feeling. Produced by @Born2dr3am mastered by Clint Slate @ClintSlate with Kev Sharp once again contributing his skills, Jeff Harrington on drums and banjo by OrangeG @orangegmusic
“The inspiration from the ‘Smoke and Mud’ song was from the old ‘spiritual’ songs on YouTube, a bit like I Be So Glad… When The Sun Goes Down — YouTube the ‘all of my life’ howling in harmony, I still hear it in this style,” adds Kelly.
“I first met Kelly when I started on Twitter in one of his threads asking folks if they had a YouTube account,” addsPittsburgh’s OrangeG
“He was larger than life! Well established with an impressive social media presence, website, etc. and as a fellow Americana artist, we quickly found appreciation for each other. He has been something of a mentor as I got started with my own social media and releases.
“The idea to collab on ‘Tomorrow’s Another Day’ came along because he had noticed my previous collaborations with ‘Godzilla Attacks Tokyo Blues Band.’ I had played a gritty harmonica on his song ‘Just a Lonely Man’, and it opened possibilities. We have been working on collabs since. I am on a couple of tracks for the album and feel so honoured to be a part of this amazing venture! Every song I have heard has blown me away and I can’t wait to hear it all put together.”
For that raw, authentic, sweeping, big film Wild West soundscape, look no further than these two new releases from the Kintner posse.
Learn more about The Kintners:
HOME | The Kintners Music (wixsite.com)
T H R E E
CORK-BASED artist ‘My Twisted Heart,’ today releases ‘Heartbreaker’ a second single from his upcoming debut EP, ‘Heart Leak.’
My Twisted Heart is the brainchild of multi-disciplinarian musician and singer-songwriter, Po Ki Ching, originally from Hong Kong.
Unfortunately, this track flip-flops between far too many genres: hip hop, emo, electronica and many others, never stopping long enough anywhere to establish any cohesion. No doubt it began life as a good concept, but ultimately, you’re left unsatisfied, somewhat akin to attempting to pile every different dish onto your plate at an all you can eat, around the world buffet, never a good idea.
The ‘Heart Leak EP’ released next week, promises to explore themes of heartbreak, through a marriage of Eastern and Western alternative and hip-hop influenced sounds.
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F O U R
FROM Ballinteer on the south side of Dublin, Fly The Nest release their latest single, ‘Say Hello.’
Stephen Cooper began playing music at a young age, performing in various bands and started his solo project, Fly the Nest, the year before last, inspired by a life of moving from place to place.
“I wrote this quite a long time ago,” he said. “And now just seemed like the right time for this song.
“I like to keep that cinematic vibe going through my songs. The emptiness of the start, by the end, it’s all built up. And yet this song is simple — it’s about the power of someone just saying hello.”
Cooper has previously mentioned the track contains a “90s Oasis vibe,” but I didn’t hear it, and I’m glad. I’m exhausted by those references, references to a band formed thirty years ago. It’s getting tedious and it’s time to move on.
In fact, the Oasis comment is bizarre given the intro appears to have been sung by Marcus Mumford. But fortunately, it’s not a ‘Mumford’ song. Instead, you’re led to believe the track is heading towards a magnificent crescendo, a wonderful grand finale — or at least chorus — but somewhat inexplicably, neither arrive.
Shame really, I had high hopes for the single, but they’ve flown the nest.
‘Say Hello’ was written by Stephen Cooper and produced by Pete Doherty.
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