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Greater California || All the Colors

open — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 22:58:45 +0000

The summer of 1976; three months set to a sound track of AM Radio. We would sing along with the songs from the backseat and secretly hope that our moms would just keep driving and that somehow our summer would never stop. A sunset nation where each day was full of endless possibilities; we had no plans and no expectations, but every single moment was somehow magical. This was the optimism of being young, as we remember a sound inspired by the experiences of growing up in California during the 1970’s.

Reviews:

Aarik Danielsen of PopMatters says: All the Colors from Long Beach quintet Greater California not only relays the carefree spirit of the season in requisite, buoyant, Brian Wilson-esque tones, but it captures the idle moments and lazy lulls which summer brings, expressing them with psychedelic peaks and valleys and instances of slow-burning rock and roll.

Edmund Welles || Tooth & Claw

open — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 04:22:47 +0000

Edmund Welles was originally founded on two principles: the bass clarinet can achieve a virtually unlimited range of sounds, and when this same instrumental voice is multiplied, it can be as powerful as a boogie woogie piano, a gospel quartet or a rock band.

The very first arrangements were of the Swan Silvertones, Montana Taylor and the Pixies. The original compositions have evolved into a style unique unto themselves while maintaining a stylistic consistency at their core, and the arrangements conquered by the quartet now include Black Sabbath and Sepultura songs.

The bass clarinet: a synergy of designs from all saxophones and clarinets, themselves the culmination of hundreds of years of single-reed instrument evolution. A four-and-a-half octave voice, multiplied into four equal parts and breathing together to create a dense, pulsing sound capable of expressing and reflecting the full range of human emotions.

Have a sample track, won’t you?

Lloyd & Michael || Just as God Made Us

open — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 03:34:12 +0000

From their bio: Over the years, both Kate and M. Ritchey explored many new musical avenues, but a small part of each of their hearts remained in that tiny, poorly-ventilated dorm room in which both their friendship and their musical lives were born. Luckily, and for unrelated reasons, they both happened to move to Los Angeles at the same time that, due to the whims of Fate, each was becoming disillusioned with her solo musical venture. It was at this moment that Lloyd and Michael spread its wings and took flight into the disgusting, smoggy air.

Now older, wiser, and infinitely more attractive, Kate and M. Ritchey were ready to bring their well-honed individual expressive talents together again, after a decade of solitary wandering. A new album was inevitable, and ended up being recorded in only about four days due to the incredibly strong and positive vibes both were experiencing.

myspace.com/lloydandmichaelrock

The Blank Tapes || Landfair

open — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 00:49:08 +0000

From Matt Adam’s bio: the blank tapes is really just me with my friends helping me out for shows. i write, record and play all the instruments on my albums (99% of the time). i have a band in san francisco and in orange county that both play as the blank tapes. Aside from those main two, there have actually been quite a few blank tapes back-up bands (mostly just drummers) that have sprouted up here and there across the country.

“Landfair” won best Pop/rock album at the Independent Music Awards 2005.