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Birmingham

That Peaceful Place: Martin Packwood is rather special with Jazz-inspired debut single ‘Daydreamer’

Posted on 17 October 2021

With his highly anticipated full album set for release in 2022, Martin Packwood soothes all our worries away with one of the most peaceful instrumental-only songs you will hear all year with ‘Daydreamer‘.

Martin Packwood is a solo recording Jazz guitarist and a retired software engineer, who was most active while playing extensively back in the 70’s and 80’s in Birmingham, UK.

You feel like he is playing above the clouds as he is floating around with a massive grin on his face, jamming his trusty guitar because he loves it. There is so much to respect about an artist who has made a comeback after working on his business, who plays with a sterling blend of excellence which is such a blessing to witness.

‘Daydreamer‘ from the skilled software engineer and Jazz guitarist Martin Packwood, is a lovely piece of music from a highly experienced musician. After reconnecting the much-missed love for his true passion again recently, you feel this raw emotion inside his experienced fingers which absolutely transforms this wonderful single. There is much to hold onto here, as this ravishing riff is just so perfectly constructed with much love attached.

Sometimes you just need to lather in peaceful ambiance, to break away from all of the distracting noise of this pollution-filled world.

Hear this delightful debut on Spotify.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Tune into Wave of Sheep’s punch-drunk-hardcore-punk single, TV Static

Posted on 9 August 2021

If your playlists are falling short of angsty punch-drunk-hardcore-punk, tune into TV Static, the latest single released by the Birmingham-based fourpiece, Wave of Sheep.

Their scuzzy track is 2:11-minutes of full-frontal aggression that channels the same anger that has eaten us away at us in isolation, but when it is spiralling out of frenetic tracks like TV Static, it’s a unifying cathartic experience that affirms that your anger is a sign of sanity rather than the flipside.

With nods to 70s punk in the production and hints of snarling post-punk to the vocals, you can’t help getting swept up in the track that attacks modern problems with vintage style.

TV Static is now available to stream along with the rest of Wave of Sheep’s EP, Lights Gone Out, via SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Birmingham’s most raucous indie punk rock luminaries Mild Headache have dropped their latest single, ‘Near Me.

Posted on 16 July 2021

Any fans of sticky-sweet vocal hooks and chaotic indie rock instrumentals will want to delve right into the latest release from the Birmingham-based raucous luminaries Mild Headache.

‘Near Me’ is a rhythmically fierce white-knuckle ride through ensnaring alt-indie elements, softened by the playful earworm potential of the anthem which is far reminiscent of the tones you’d hear from across the pond.

The last thing we needed was another indie-pop-rock assimilating act; Mild Headache put the unoriginal to shame. They have exactly what it takes to ascend in the ranks with Cabbage, SHAME, Gender Roles and Hot Milk and hit the same heights. If you get a chance to see them live, take it.

Near Me is now available to stream on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Fauxchisels do HG Wells proud with their 2021 noise rock album, ‘Education or Catastrophe’

Posted on 20 May 2021
Education or Catastrophe by Fauxchisels

In 1921, HG Wells observed that “human history becomes more and more a race between education and catastrophe”. In 2021, Birmingham-based noise-rock artist Fauxchisels brought forth their artfully caustic album, Education or Catastrophe, demonstrating that little has changed in the presiding century aside from the widening of inequity.

Education or Catastrophe kicks off with the Fugazi-Esque fervent single, Get Over Yrself, before the despondent Northern roots start to really pull through in Badges and Ideals instrumentally and lyrically through lines such as “You bring the Daily Mail, I’ll bring the matches”; proving that Fauxchisels are just as adept at witty protestive soundbites as any of the contemporary punk-chart toppers.

Track five, Family Friendly, is a meditatively harrowing single that will feel familiar to any fans of Arab Strap as the imploring sermonic vocals act as a candid invitation into the dourness of the thankless domesticity we’ve all wrestled with during lockown.

Constant Ghost is one of those engorging aural oddities that reels you in hook, bassline and sinker, the tumultuous chaos of the breakdowns against the steady canter of the poetic lyrics is art-punk at its finest.

The album is far cheaper and probably far more effective in giving you a cathartic outlet for your rage than therapy. Fauxchisels went above the usual austere indignance in the 12-track release that never gives you the chance to feel comfortable or complacent with the versatility in styling, emotion and volatility.

Head over to Bandcamp to hear the album yourselves or purchase in physical format. Check out Fauxchisels’ on Facebook.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Worries Don’t Seem Too Big: South Birmingham hip-hop artist OriginelJay blazes away the issues with ‘Smoke 2 That’

Posted on 4 May 2021

Released by the claw-like ferocity of local indie label TigerBloodMuzik Entertainment, OriginelJay gets into the 420 mode with the rizla-filled new 20th April 2021 dropped single full of smokey puff called ‘Smoke 2 That‘.

OriginelJay is a underground South Birmingham, England-based ten-year veteran emcee, who flows in the room with a style that has you reaching for the lighter beside you and flaming up the vibe, to make sure that its alive with breathtaking bars of quality.

This is the message about not worrying about anything for too long — as you toke up and forget about the stress of life — the vibe of lighting off the pressure is paramount as you find your way in this overly stressful world, that is full of potholes and undesirables all over the place.

You feel his authentic mellow vibe filter through through the speakers, as his impressively consistent delivery packs a punch each time and shows his ever-increasing credentials in a bloated genre.

‘Smoke 2 That‘ from the talented South Birmingham hip-hop artist OriginelJay, is a roll away from the problems with this steamy new track that flows like a freestyle and has you happy like you just swam an Olympic backstroke. He puts out all the fires with a cloud-like reflective, that is full of cleverly rapped bars which are highly impressive.

Stream this new single on Soundcloud and check out his Twitter for more.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

The Home Stretch made a seafaringly sweet debut with their album ‘Ocean Boy’

Posted on 1 March 2021

Discernibly, it isn’t just the artwork for The Home Stretch’s album ‘Ocean Boy’ which Neutral Milk Hotel inspired, the same lo-fi psych folk sound resounds right through the debut album from the Birmingham-based newcomers.

The seafaringly sweet album starts with the title-track which allows you to wade into The Home Stretch’s cathartically panoramic signature sound which will undoubtedly be a hit with any fans of Deerhunter.

There’s nothing ambient about the intricate art rock guitar progressions which pop with bluesy pronunciation, but you’ll feel serenity wash over you as you let this mellifluously stunning soundscape arrest your rhythmic pulses and offer indulgent aurally-derived escapism.

Ocean Boy is now available to stream via Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

 

Martin Reynolds swaps the drum stool for the acoustic guitar on folk-pop solo debut ‘Strange Days Indeed’

Posted on 1 March 2021

Upfront with an acoustic guitar and a bunch of original tracks might not be Martin Reynolds’ usual place, but on the basis of ‘Strange Days Indeed’ it really, really ought to be far, far more often. Usually found thumping tubs behind Birmingham grunge-blues-rockers You Dirty Blue, Reynolds took the opportunity of lockdown to borrow a 24 track mixer and record an album’s worth of vaguely folky, jangly loosely sixties- and seventies-inspired numbers, the first of which to hit the public’s earlobes and consciousness being ‘Strange Days Indeed’. Think Del Amitri, Hothouse Flowers, Ray LaMontagne, Jack Johnson, or Ben Harper.

‘Strange Days Indeed’ is friendly, immediate and open, honest and confessional, speaking of a personal take on life and the emotions of the last twelve months, bittersweet but optimistic and upbeat, Reynolds’ voice lilting and melodic, the song itself poppy, catchy, and uplifting – a riot of strummed campfire guitar, tambourine, and backing vocals, but Reynolds’ musicianship shines through the whole time in the picked acoustic solo and the overall arrangement.

‘Where There’s Hope’ – the ten track album – is out shortly; check out ‘Strange Days Indeed’ on Spotify, and follow Martin Reynolds on Facebook and Instagram.

Review by Alex Holmes

Only for the real: Birmingham singer Pavit Sanghera doesn’t want that ‘Fake Love’ on superb new single

Posted on 14 February 2021

Telling it how she truly feels, Pavit Sanghera sings so beautifully about what her heart really wants on ‘Fake Love‘.

Pavit Sanghera is a honey-tipped voiced soulfully real indie r&b/soul/Indian classically trained singer-songwriter from Birmingham in England. She sings marvelously with that inspiring honest feel, her captivating vocals rise above the tempting fake doors around you, as she affectionately leads you into the authentic energy that adds value to your mind long-term, whilst masterfully shutting out all of the unnecessary noise that just distracts you from where you need to be in your life.

She adds in her glorious Punjabi singing to blend such a tasty treat together for us to consume hungrily, as we think about those times we were with the wrong person for us completely, as we let our bodies decide, rather than our hearts. Her truthful story is sung with a loving touch, experiences interwoven into her caring nature, as she is a strong woman who is teaching us the right ways through her lovely music.

‘Fake Love‘ from the wonderful Birmingham, UK singer Pavit Sanghera, is that true story about how love gets cloudy sometimes between what your body feels is right and what your heart truly desires. Feeding your heart leads your soul into being full as ultimately, you want to be fulfilled in life where it counts.

Stream this sensational new single on Spotify, YouTube and see her honest stories on IG.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Hot in these streets: Birmingham’s Trapboy Lew drops hard-hitting single ‘Salute Me’

Posted on 29 January 2021

Trapboy Lew returns with more life lessons to learn from, on the top shelf new single named ‘Salute Me‘.

North West Birmingham-based underground UK drill rapper Trapboy Lew, formulates that supremely raw flow music that speaks of street stories, growing up in the UK with all that’s going on right now, and what his mindset is to survive the trials and tribulations, that occur on the daily where he’s from.

With a smooth delivery that shaves closer than your local barber, we are brought to a warehouse where his crew are ready to let loose. They are keeping low as things have got slightly hot but they are town legends so all will be okay.

His lyrical dynamism is clearly apparent as the catchy chorus has you automatically joining in with vocals. This is a sharply dressed, self-motivated artist, who opens the door on what life is like when you want to feed your team- to live the life you know you deserve.

‘Salute Me‘ from the fiery Birmingham emcee Trapboy Lew, takes you underground to where the real music is, as we are transported like Jason Statham to a place where you need to have your wits about you to survive. With an unwavering  powerful presence, he exudes confidence and you feel like this is a real story, not a fairy tale that has been quickly fabricated.

When you have a strong team that are willing to go where you lead, this is where the extra pressure comes from if things go belly up, but if its all roses, you will be hailed as one of the greats.

See the fire video made together with P110 on YouTube, hit the stream on Spotify to hear this ace emcee and check out his IG.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Andy John Jones has released their fiery feat of soul-rock ‘Closer’

Posted on 23 January 2021
Andy John Jones

If you’re sick of vapid rock n roll, melt into the ardent grooves of Andy John Jones’ latest funk-infused soul-rock serenade, ‘Closer’.

By channelling 70s-era Stones vibes while laying their affable soul down around bluesy hooks, Closer is the ultimate testament to the Birmingham-born artist’s talent when it comes to creating indulgent explorations of romantic frustration to timelessly enamouring tones.

The production may be smooth, but that didn’t stop plenty of lyrical grit entering the track which became an exposition of the danger of sex traps which ensnare us and keep us trapped in toxic dynamics. It’s tragically rare to hear ‘real talk’ when it comes to sex within lyricism, here’s to hoping that Andy John Jones starts a trend.

Closer is due for official release on January 22nd, you can check it out by heading over to their official website.

Review by Amelia Vandergast