Big Rock Finish… reviews of independent music

After forming in 2002, the collective of musicians that comprise Theta Naught have continued to push their own idea of improvisational, experimental, instrumental music into new realms. They have recorded and released five albums on the Differential Records label: Something Scientific, Abacus, Sound Weave, Naught Christmas, and Omnium- Gatherum. Their music has also been featured on a variety of compilation albums, and television and film scores. Drawing influence from a wide spectrum of art and science, the group has been compared to a cross-genre hybrid of acts like J.S. Bach, Faith No More, Miles Davis, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Pink Floyd, and more. No strangers to collaboration, Theta Naught has been involved with performances and recordings featuring the addition of movement, light, and voice, by means of dancers, projectionists, films, poets, word-shakers, et cetera.

www.thetanaught.org

Photography by Maurice

Since forming in 1999, My Education has released 5 full-length albums, a 12″ vinyl collaboration with avant-hip hop duo Dalek, several singles, and numerous compilation appearances. Recordings have been remixed by members of bands Kinski, Pelican, the Red Sparowes and Dalek. Several tours have ensued, all over the United States and into Canada. Albums include 5 Popes, Italian, Moody Dipper, Bad Vibrations and the latest, Sunrise, out on Strange Attractors Audio House in the USA & Canada and on Golden Antenna in Europe. Touring vets who have shared the stage with A Place to Bury Strangers, Kinski, Bardo Pond, Maserati, Red Sparowes, Dalek, The Black Angels, Warpaint, The Soundtrack of Our Lives, This Will Destroy You, Sleepy Sun, White Denim, Radar Bros., Eluvium, Sian Alice Group, Don Caballero, Trans AM and more!

www.myeducationmusic.com

Sweden’s number one purveyors of sweet pop melodies are back! It’s been nearly six years since Acid House Kings graced us with a new album, but perfection takes time. And that is exactly what these delightful human beings have delivered with their fifth studio album, Music Sounds Better with You, which dropped March 22. In 2005 the Kings released Sing Along with the Acid House Kings. With the mantra “untrendy is the new trend,” the album was considered by many to be the Kings’ crown jewel, the quintessential representation of upbeat, bookish sensitivity coupled with an unparalleled understanding of what it means to craft catchy pop tunes.

www.acidhousekings.com

Self-taught pianist, poet and producer Rachael Sage radiates what MOJO Magazine calls “warm, intelligent…New York indie charm”. An innovative, improvisational keyboardist, she performs over 150 dates a year throughout North America, Europe and Asia. In 2009, Sage’s sold-out holiday show at New York’s Joe’s Pub was recommended as a “Top Pick” by both the New York Daily News and Time Out, and in 2010 The Wall Street Journal

chose to profile her in support of her new album Delancey Street. This past summer, Sage returned to the world’s largest arts festival, Edinburgh Fringe, where she performed a 2 week-long run of her show “Stop Me If I’m Kvetching…” to rave reviews.

Named one of the Top 100 Independent Artist Of The Past 15 Years by Performing Songwriter magazine, Sage has shared the stage with Marc Cohn, Ani DiFranco, Colin Hay, The Animals, Shawn Colvin and Judy Collins. A Grand Prize Winner in the John Lennon Songwriting Contest as well as a two-time Independent Music Award and OUTMusic Award winner, Rachael recently released her 9th album, Delancey Street. Described as an “album about change”, the record features eleven orginal compositions, plus inspired covers of Hall & Oates’ classic ‘Rich Girl’, as well as Sage’s understated rendition of ‘Fame’. A musical exploration of identity and cultural heritage, Delancey Street is in stores now and available on iTunes & Amazon

www.rachaelsage.com

The Zoobombs were formed by DON Matsuo (vocals/guitar), Matta (keyboards), and Moostop (bass) in Tokyo in September 1994 and — together with various drummers – have been amazing rock audiences in Japan, North American and Australia ever since. The Zoobombs’ brand of rock and roll is unique: hardcore punk blues spiked with explorations of funk, rap, prog-rock, and even traditional Japanese folk.

The Zoobombs incendiary, live performances quickly shot them to the top of Japan’s indie-rock scene and opening concert performances for The Flaming Lips and Jon Spencer’s Blues Explosion. These Japanese psych rockers have been garnering heaps of praise from major media outlets and industry personalities across the globe for their unique blend of psychedelic funk rock. MTV Iggy saying “Essentially, it’s the band The Stones would be if they’d been forged in the post-punk era” and The New York Times featured their Let it Bomb album as a masterpiece OF the “Japanese Next Wave” rock movement.

www.thezoobombs.com

My genre is difficult to define, but lies on the darker side of electro-pop-rock, with a dash of acoustics and jazz.
I’m inspired by Kate Bush, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Dragonette, 90′s Bjørk, Sia, Fiona Apple, and Fever Ray amongst a zillion others. (All
about the women!)

My debut album ‘Amateur’ was self-released by choice, written, recorded and produced, (and now promoted), by yours truly. Despite the lack of involvement from professionals, the album has received very positive feedback.

Despite the fact I’ve yet to play live, my fanbase has grown to count more than 7000 people from all over the world, (with more than 4000 on my Facebook musicpage alone), I have reached no.1 on the Reverbnation Alternative chart for Denmark, and
remixes are so far being released on various labels in UK, US and France.

www.katboelskov.com

Highway Collection may be Lovett’s debut album, but if it doesn’t sound that way, there’s a good reason. Helmsman Ben Lovett has been at this game for years, producing an impressive collection of albums and award-winning film scores for other artists. So we guess it was only a matter of time, and the wait was well worth it.

The self-released first single, “Eye of the Storm,” showcases Lovett’s uncanny knack for storytelling and production with its haunting vocals and acoustic guitar expertly melded with somber cello and violin into a lush watercolor of sound. The song’s visual counterpart, directed by Chris Alender of Soapbox Films, is a stunning steampunk masterpiece that became a viral sensation, generating over 2 million plays in its first month. But Lovett quickly flipped the table on anyone expecting a slow burning ethereal album and knocked us sideways with “Heartattack,” a wild, danceable, upbeat barn-burner of a love song packed with enough energy to peel paint and stomp through stage floors. The video for “Heartattack,” a colorful panorama of stylized party action, shows us all 12 of Lovett’s circus at their swaggering best. Blow your ears a kiss and check out the MP3 for “Heartattack,” below.

WWW.LOVETTMUSIC.COM