Music Publicity

Artist: Honest Touch
Title: Memories From A Dream
Genre: Instrumental-Classical-New Age
Label: Independent
Website
CD Baby Link

Honest Touch is from across the pond in Athens Greece. The duo of Samy Elgazzar (composer, keyboards) and Fofi Maniadaki (acoustic piano) combine their talents to record Memories From A Dream. Some fine talent backs them as well on the recording. A five-piece band and the Amadeus Orchestra add their special touch to give the duo a solid base to build upon.

The music befits the title as it creates many images while listening. It is all at once cinematic, breathtaking, and a slice of heaven. The orchestral segments set the tone, whether it is fast paced and dramatic or sad and reflective. The keyboards come delivered upon a layer of sweeping orchestration in each track.

The couple is interested in provoking thoughts from its audience, and there are many subjects covered even though there are not words attached to the music. Their music is so powerful that words are not needed, just look at the titles; they are suggestive enough to engage you and compel you to develop your own storyline while listening. It was easy for me as I can relate much better to instrumental music than compositions entangled with words, which are frequently difficult to understand to begin with on most recordings. This CD starts you off with a clean slate as a perspective listener and each composition is an aural landscape, an adventure that will transport you away to another place in time very quickly. It is easy if you let the music take you. With good instrumentals, it is my choice to immerse myself in the sounds and land wherever it takes me. That is what makes an instrumental track so exciting and special.

I was very impressed with this music and the sound is very good as well. Music so delicate and complex needs top-notch engineering and mixing. It is obvious to me after several listens that there was a job well done in all the important aspects of producing a quality recording. Do not be surprised if you hear this music in the background of a film someday.

© Keith "MuzikMan" Hannaleck

September 21, 2006

01. Prologue: Let Love Soar
02. A Lonely Ride
03. Dancing Under The Moon
04. Moments With You
05. Like The Wind, The Wave & The Sand
06. Autumn Tear
07. And A Time For War..!
08. Luce Lontana
09. Withering Wish
10. Memories From A Dream
11. Then You Came
12. A Promise Forever
13. Epilogue: Lay All Your Love On Me

Artist: Pete Teo
Title:
Genre: Alertnative-Folk
Label: Redbag
CD Baby Link
Website

Pete Teo plants a seed then it steadily germinates with the warmth of his music, just like the sun and the rain help a flower to grow. This is the best way to explain how this music made me feel. I loved Rustic Living For Urbanites, Teo’s previous release that came out in 2004, and the new release Television, is an exceptional follow up album.

His voice is a soft vibrato that gradually pulls you into his reflective, deep, and sometimes pensive storytelling. I think the best way to put this music into a specific genre would be to say that it is an entertaining form of alternative-folk. This is an art form expressed from an individual’s soul; I could feel that in this music. As I mentioned in my first review, the man is a poet, a true artisan developing his craft in every composition.

The packaging for the CD is impressive, it comes in a glossy cardboard slipcase with another cardboard sleeve that holds the CD, along with a thick (yes, glossy) booklet that has many pictures of the contributing musicians and the lyrics (which are so damned small I don’t think I could read them before I got glasses!). Packaging is always secondary to the music but a well conceived CD usually comes wrapped up in some sort of attractive packaging, it really does make a difference, especially if the music matches the packaging it comes in, and in this case, it does.

The one track that stood out the most for my ears was “Shine,” although every track had its merits and stood up as individual pieces of work. I loved the middle of the song when the rolling piano comes in; it is so rhythmic and catchy, a real foot stomper. Pete’s voice never seems to go up or down; it is steady throughout regardless of the subject…his inflection changes to emphasize certain lyrics but you never hear anything switch up dramatically (i.e. from soft to screaming). Consistency is the name of the game in any work you do and Pete Teo is one consistent recording artist that you can count on to deliver the goods. All 11 tracks served their purpose well for me; I enjoyed the music, lyrics, everything offered. I must mention that the outstanding musicianship was very apparent on this album, and the production quality, which Teo was a part of, was above average as well.

© Keith "MuzikMan" Hannaleck

September 21, 2006

Tracks:
01. Lost In America (4:47)
02. Shine (4:20)
03. Hide Your Gun (4:51)
04. Carnival Hall (4:04)
05. Sunday Best Shoes (4:33)
06. Laura Nelson's Bridge (5:55)
07. The Infidel (4:44)
08. Tom (5:06)
09. Blow (4:40)
10. Into The Storm (6:24)
11. Who For You? (3:33)

Credits:
Pete Teo - guitar & vocals
Nick Lee - Guitars
Justin Lim - piano
Ren Takada - Pedal Steel
Andrew Tan - Organ
Nguyen Hai Phuong - Dan Bau
Chan Kum Loong - Erhu
Hayakawa Takeharu - Bass
Lewis Pragasam - Drums
Yagi Nobuo - Harmonica
Steve Thornton - Tambourine
Angelita Li - Backing Vocals

Artist: Kellylee Evans
Title: Fight or Flight?
Genre: Jazz
Label: Enliven! Media
CD Baby Link
Website

Kellylee Evans decides to take flight rather than fight on her new recording Fight or Flight? The title of the CD will have different interpretations by each individual listener no doubt. I see it as an artist deciding to do what comes natural-sing her heart out and record one fine album filled with jazz and emotion. Evans has a lovely warm delivery expressed through the twelve tracks on this CD.

Ms. Evans surrounds herself with a cache of excellent musicians and it becomes apparent rather promptly when “What About Me” begins, that this is the foundation of her ultimate success. Although the most important instrument on the album is her voice…what would any great set of pipes be without a backing band that can get the job done? Evans’ voice sounds like it was designed for jazz and there is no question about it once you hear the entire album. Kellylee sounds like she has the jazz vibe and groove running through every fiber of her being. This natural feeling and down to earth style comes through brilliantly on all twelve tracks.

My favorites are the opener “What About Me?,” which is so good you get to hear it again at end of the CD as a bonus track only this time it’s a saucier slow burner version. “Rapunzel” is a great showcase for Kellylee’s versatile vocal chords. The Latin beats suit her well and the way she controls the words and the inflection of her voice is just superb throughout the track. You will get right into the story instantly and start picturing what the fair maiden that drives all the men wild looks like. “How Can You Get Along Without Me?” is a classic. It is an original Evans track that I could see Sinatra or Bennett singing, snapping their fingers, and tapping their feet from start to finish.

This CD comes filled with great music accompanied by fine vocals, essentially everything that you would love about a favorite album. For all of the reasons mentioned above, this CD has become one of my favorite jazz vocal albums of 2006. Thank god, there are still people making great jazz albums these days, it gives me hope, it gives indie music as an entity hope, and that is a good thing.

© Keith "MuzikMan" Hannaleck

September 19, 2006

01. What About Me?
02. Lead Me Closer
03. I Don’t Want You To Love Me
04. Hooked
05. Fight of Flight? (Help Me, Help You)
06. I Don’t Think I Want To Know
07. Let’s Call a Truce Tonight
08. Rapunzel
09. How Can You Get Along Without Me?
10. Enough
11. Who Knows
12. What About Me? (Bonus Track)


Credits:

Kellylee Evans: vocals, bass programming (2)
Carlos Henderson: bass (1,2)
Jon Cowland: keyboard (2)
Carl Burnett: acoustic guitar (1,2)
Rocky Bryant: drums (1,2)
Lonnie Plaxico: bass (3-12)
George Colligan: keyboard (4-7, 9-12)
Marvin Sewell: acoustic guitar (3, 5, 8), electric guitar: (4, 6, 7,9-12)
Steve Hass: drums (4, 7, 9-12)
Kahill Kwame Bell: percussion (3-9, 11, 12)
Alexander Norris: trumpet (3)
Rachelle Garniez: accordion (8)

Artist: Additional Moog
Title: Lost Engines
Genre: Alternative-Rock-Pop-Country
Label: Lost Cat Records
Website

Lost Engines gives you a grand tour of the Additional Moog sound. This band sounds like many bands you have heard before yet they put their own particular twist on everything.

16 tracks is a lot of music to take in, but it’s all very enjoyable and that’s a good thing. I thought about the Velvet Underground more than once while I was listening to it. The band likes to call itself lo-fi alt country, in some cases I can agree with that, particularly on one of my favourite tunes, “Soul Star.” A lot of the time I heard some good basic rock-pop comparative to Big Star and the like, partly because vocalist James Williams reminded me of Alex Chilton.

If you want to rock, this is not your CD. If you like nice melodies, sweet vocal harmonies, and jangling guitars this will be exactly what the doctor ordered. I found it very pleasant and unusually relaxing for music with so much rhythm and substance. The lyrics are clear and have some purpose; there really are not any nonsensical forays that have you scratching your head. Yes, Additional Moog cuts right to the chase: it is simple, clean, and good music. Sometimes it’s what I need and other times it makes me yawn, it just depends what kind of mood I am in and what my energy level is. But that goes without saying no matter I listen to. All in all, this is an album worth checking out; they are an interesting and different band that caught my ear several times while listening to this CD.

© Keith "MuzikMan" Hannaleck

September 18, 2006

01. Avalanche Days (3:22)
02. Country Singer (3:09)
03. Harmonica Fuel (3:02)
04. Eurovision Failure (2:19)
05. Silver Diver (3:22)
06. Trout Thing (3:34)
07. Throat Kung-Fu (1:52)
08. High Lounge (3:07)
09. Alaska (3:41)
10.Kicking Static (2:36)
11. Soul Star (5:17)
12. Queen Of The D (2:18)
13. El Guiro! (2:28)
14. Mexicans (2:36)
15. Signs On 54 (4:15)
16. Rope-Trained (2:58)

Credits:
James Williams vocals, guitar
Ian Powell drums, backing vocals
Alex Reynolds bass, additional guitar
Mark Rose guitars, additional moogs, bass, keys, songs

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Boston, MA--September 18, 2006-- After a successful gig at Locobazooka, Uplift is poised to take their new music to the masses. Nothing Left Behind is quickly receiving recognition by a growing fan base and when 2006 is over the album looks as if it will fall snugly into the top of the indie rock-metal charts.

Uplift has shared the stage with Alice in Chains, Social Burn, Days of The New, Ra, Wicked Wisdom, PM5K, Buckcherry, Black Stone Cherry, and Bipolar. There is no doubt that soon they will be right up there amongst the headliners with the strong momentum that will carry them right into the New Year.

Uplift is part of the new wave of bands that know how to utilize the tools available to reach music fans. They have secured performance dates through the fall of this year and continually update their website, while building profiles on community based sites like My Space. This proactive approach is making things move at the speed of light for the band and everyone involved is very excited.

Endorsements from Krank Amps, GHS Strings, a major distribution initiative through Trans World’s Localeyez program and a college radio campaign combines to pack a powerful media punch for the band. The band will have a chance at earning major retail placement based on their reported online sales, tireless promotion, and their spot on business acumen.

Uplift features the vocals of Jason Arigoni aka Jsin, their fiery leader, and owner of the band’s label Mohawk Recording Group, a full-service independent record label catering to independent musicians, Dan Zavadil (bass), Dave Mason (guitars), and Alex Fuller (drums). They have found a chemistry that works well and the result is their incredible success. Their music and energy is compelling, electrifying, and reflected on Nothing Left Behind.

The band looks forward to touring and meeting their audiences wherever they land. With an endless flow of power, stage presence, and charisma, Uplift is ready to take on the world and blaze a path for other indie bands to follow.

Contact: Jason Arigoni
Company: Mohawk Recording Group
Address: PO BOX 346, North Adams MA USA 01247
Telephone: 413-652-9440
Email
Website


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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Silver Spring, Maryland--September 18, 2006-- The dance-electronica scene is ready to embrace another rising star. Singer/actress Natalia Nazarova has a new album set for release October 2, 2006 titled Fashion that is poised to take its place on the international dance charts. Natalia’s voice is simply spellbinding throughout the recording.

Natalia’s many talents and diverse range of influences allows her to record in several genres. Previous releases featured her singing jazz tunes and clearly that strong background has helped her to transition over into the more upbeat energetic world of dance and electronica.

Fashion features the trademark alluring international vocal style that has forged a singular and distinctive path for the Natalia. Her sophisticated and sexy vocals permeate each track, making it a perfect fit for the music on the CD.

The haunting and powerful “No Excuse” opens the album up and each succeeding track offers various atmospheres with chill out grooves that spark rhythmic non-stop beats. Two versions of the title track are on the CD with the Global Domination Mix sure to wet the appetites of DJs and dancers everywhere. The track has a well-built electronica groove that never lets go. Other standout tracks include “Love and Loyalty,” a smooth, direct, alluring, and sexy invitation and “At the Matinee,” where Natalia sounds like Annie Lenox with a European accent, her delivery is powerful, like a cinematic soundtrack with emotive vocals.

Natalia Nazarova has an international appeal and reach that is undeniable and Fashion is certain to garner critical acclaim and new listeners from every corner of the globe.

Fashion samples are available by visiting the Natalia Nazarova website or CD Baby.

Contact: B. Elliot Grysen, Esq.
Company: Riverstreet Gang Productions
Address: 806 River Street, Spring Lake, Michigan 49456
Telephone: 800-727-1470
Fax: 616-847-6208
Email
Website
CD Baby Link

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