Martin Newell is a poet, author, musician, gardener and general troublemaker. As the main singer/songwriter from the Cleaners From Venus, he self-released his albums on cassette and did his best to avoid the music industry while building a fan base, becoming an inspiration for many DIY musicians. Martin talks about some advice he got starting out, meeting and working with Andy Partridge (XTC) and his memories of the 1960′s.
I have such a good time chatting with Martin, I pull a Zelig and my own voice starts to unconsciously imitate his accent! Martin also has been adding funny promotional videos for his album “Return To Bohemia” called Mule TV. It’s obviously a Monty Python inspired video series with looney interviews with a tune thrown in.
Episode 1 | Episode 2 | Episode 3 | Episode 4 | Episode 5 | Episode 6
The Cleaners From Venus “Return To Bohemia”
Martin Newell is probably the most Anglophilic singer songwriter I’ve ever heard. As the driving force behind cult indie rockers Cleaners from Venus, he produced a new album hot after the new re-mastered box sets of the Cleaners DIY years. Newell is at a stage in life where you tend to look back, and Return to Bohemia is like an old friend spinning stories at the pub.
“Cling to Me” is a classic Cleaners type of lo-fi tune, with a fuzzy guitar lead, overdubbed jangle and drum machine with Newell echoing lead. “He’s Going Out With Marilyn” is another jangle gem about teen jealousy. The mood shifts dramatically with “The Days of May,” a somber acoustic song about the passage of time. Newell’s songwriting is as sharp as ever, “The Royal Bank of Love” is a fantastic song, but really needs the lush detailed production instead of the sparse instrumentation. It works better on “Mrs Gale and Her New Lover,” and the free association fun of the title track. “King of The Sixties” is another catchy gem along with the echoing “I Wanna Stay In.” Fans of the Cleaners will love this collection although it may take a few plays for the uninitiated to fall in line. A treasure.
Power Popaholic Fest Soundtrack Vol.3 release party!
It’s finally here! The Power Popaholic Original Soundtrack Volume 3 is ready for you! 16 tracks of can’t miss rock and roll all in support of this summer’s Power Popaholic Fest in Brooklyn, on August 29 & 30. Some of this music has never been released anywhere yet and other tracks are exclusive to this collection. This is currently only available as a download on Bandcamp. We will have some special CD versions for sale at the show. This video above is the Lisa Mychols Three with the opening track! Listen and enjoy!
Edward O’Connell and The Above
Edward O’Connell “Vanishing Act”
Edward O’Connell was “Our Little Secret” back in 2010, and finally we get a follow up with similar results. A smart mix of influences: Tom Petty, Roger McGuinn, Bob Dylan, Warren Zevon and Elvis Costello. Now with a larger cast of supporting players (including P.Hux!) the sound is richer than before, and O’Connell hits his stride here. “My Dumb Luck” is an great opener, a contemporary guitar ear-worm that can live on “repeat.” Next, “Lonely Crowd” is a bit more subdued, but it sends a thoughtful message about his audience. “Every Precious Day” pumps up the jangle, making it a catchy single.
“What Have You Done?” is similar to Elvis Costello in structure, the chord and vocalization shifts makes it another highlight amongst many. “I’m The Man” is a country flavored song about a murderous wife. Like the debut, the musicianship is impeccable but its tough to keep the energy going (“Yesterday’s World”). Still, O’Connell manages to keep the sweetness on the slow tempo “Last To Leave” and put out a great finale “The End Of The Line.” Such effort does not get wasted, and it makes my top ten of 2014 best LP nominee list.
CD Baby | Amazon | Kool Kat Musik (with bonus disc)
The Above “Waterbury Street”
It’s hard to find a more period accurate retro-rock band than The Above. Even more than the debut album, the band’s technical skill has increased and with the sophomore LP “Waterbury Street” you’d swear this is a lost rock band circa 1966-68. Lead singer David Alan Horowitz is patterned after Ray Davies and the music is a combination of pop, rock and blues most closely associated with The Kinks, The Who, The Animals and The Creation.
What makes the band standout is also the exceptional songwriting. “Coming Around” and “Do You Have Healthy Mind?” are both hip shaking perfection and even the song “The Prisoner” relates to the era (all about the 1967 British TV show). “Goons” is another gem sounding like The Who’s early mod hits. The R&B stomp of “Dog Without A Bone” keeps the variety going, and the Rickenbacker jangle of “Ordinary Life” is infectious. I couldn’t find a dud or ounce of filler here. Highly Recommended for sure!
Bandcamp
Sir Video (Timmy Sean) and Lucy Schwartz
Sir Video “Light Years” EP
Many remember Timmy Sean from his outstanding LP several years ago. Well he’s back, sort of… in his disco-era alter-ego Sir Video. This isn’t more than dance pop similar to The Orion Experience, but a bit more retro with guitars breaking into the party on “Oh No They’re On The Radio.” Next “Take My Breath Away” is very much in the boy band mode, and next “She’s A Killer” is straight out of the Michael Jackson/Stevie Wonder ’80s pop template. I liked “Do What You Wanna” and for the most part this uses that eras production without its most dated excesses. We concentrate so much on ’60s and ’70s nostalgia here, its refreshing to hear the neon decade’s re-working through a new artist.
CD Baby
Lucy Schwartz “Timekeeper”
This album was one of the good ones that got away from me last year. Lucy Schwartz is one of the most talented female vocalists I’ve heard in a long time. Her album effortlessly segues from pop to rock to soul in a dazzling display of versatility, and it took me a few listens to really become a fan. Starting with “Ghost in My House,” its a mid-tempo pop song with a soulful singalong chorus that showcases Lucy’s distinct vocal, somewhat between Nicole Atkins and Sara Bareilles.
The heavy beat and guitar strum opens up “Turn Your Light On Me” a solid pop single, and the organic girl-school rhythm of “My Friend” keep focus on Lucy’s catchy songwriting. But what won me over is the lush torch song “Feel So Fine,” so seductive that it will give you goosebumps. The orchestral touches and atmosphere of “Curse” and “Marie Antoinette” seem more suited to Enya and the quirky “Time Will Tell” is like a lost Suzanne Vega tune. But just when you think it’s fallen into predictability, she pulls out a gem like the Beatlesque “Captain Sunshine” and I’m back on the bandwagon. In retrospect, highly recommended.