86 Floors from Heaven This song was never going to be a barrel of laughs. 86 floors from heaven is a song written about Evelyn McHale, a young woman that jumped from the Empire State Building in 1947, ending her life in what has become an iconic photoshoot- her body resting on a crumpled Sedan car.
Using the mixture of sadness and inspiration he felt upon seeing the image of her death, Mr Matthews melancholy poem documents the journey of a wandering soul from this side to the next, capturing a delicately uplifting mood that is soothing and mournful. Murmuring soft vocals and piano set the scene in a track that is classic Scott Matthews storytelling and educational to boot. Enjoy. Taken from the forthcoming album, Home Part 1, released 10th November, 2014. http://scottmatthewsmusic.co.uk
CUCKOOLANDER- Cuckoolander EP
The product of a musical family -and citing her Mum as her biggest influence- many other references through the years include anything from jazz and soul to grunge. However, currently best compared to fellow synth-loving lovelies, The Naked and Famous, or even Chvrches, Cuckoolander is also fresh from supporting The Libertines at their recent Ally Pally shows and is now opening for them on their European dates, so you get a sense of the sort of pigeonhole she fits in. This eponymous debut release also features the soulful All The Way and is apparently a very real slice of this young ladys dark side, with Tarantino-esque riffs demonstrating her love of the fantastical. One to watch. Oh yes! Released 12th October, 2014
TERROR PIGEON!- BYOYOLO
THE HILARY REYNOLDS BAND- The miles ahead of us Hmmm, I wonder what the lead singer of this band is called? Droll, I know. Anyway, writing classic, warm-your-cockles-round-the-campfire type tunes, The HRB claim to have risen from obscurity to sharing stages with Norah Jones. Following this, they appear to then have written a song that sounded like Norah Jones, called it Pretending Im in love and stuck it on this very album. So, heavily influenced by on-trend genres of country and folk then- and sometimes giving the nod to pop, jazz and rock- the quintets traditional style also largely compares to bigger acts like The Lumineers, Little Big Town and, in one song, Evanescence, and lesser-known artists like Lindi Ortega or Freds House. Inspired by nature and real life- not least the recent loss of her mother to breast cancer- Hilary and her merry, er, band perform songs that have an earthy, familiar feel and are often romantic in theme to the point that they could quite easily form a teen-movie soundtrack or at least one for a Farrelly Brothers romcom. With a production so understated yet with songwriting so commercially appealing, while The miles ahead of us will not blow your mind, it might just touch your heart. Aw. Released 3rd November, 2014. By Anna C |