Great new music from independent labels and artists all around the world

A lot of great music and precious little from me on SnC this week. We’ve tracks from London, Netherlands, Brooklyn, Mali, Belgium and Texas as well as a picture, of a field of winter wheat next to the barn, taken last November.
I do usually take a picture on show day so that it is really fresh – to give you an idea of what’s happening here in Suffolk today. But really, today stayed very dark and it has been raining steadily all day. That combines with almost a whole day of Skype meetings and I’m afraid the picture went  by the board. (I wonder where that expression has its origins.)
 
What you got – miX&dorp (Netherlands)
From a brand new MiX&dorp album Blues + Beat a collection of remixes, reinventions and rejuvenations on Black and Tan Records
“Forget the past. It’s dead, and so is the way you used to think about blues. miX&dorp blasts new life into the style by blending modern beats and blasts from the future into existing tracks for a fresh sound that makes the rhythmic heart of the blues beat stronger than ever.
The official release for the physical CD is March 28, 2011 but the tracks are already available at most of the major download platforms and here is the link to the release at iTunes: http://itunes.apple.com/nl/album/blues-beat/id419378492 ”
Hard copies of the record can be (pre)- ordered in the Black and Tan web shop at www.crossroads.nl/

miXendorp

m i X e n d o r p bluestronica

@miXendorp
www.facebook.com/pages/MiXendorp/152870691404494?ref=ts
 
Happiness – Robinson (London, UK)
The story begins… 
Once upon a time there was a Lord Burgess who was a very wealthy and respected landowner at the turn of the last century. He had butlers, servants and most importantly maids to wait on him hand and foot. 
This ‘Lord’ ended up having his wicked way with one of his maids, therefore leaving the mother no other choice but to abandon her bastard child and give him to the orphanage. This bastard of a baby was Robinson’s great grandfather, who turned out to be a coal mining alcoholic. 
Robinson insists that this family background has been a trigger for his creativity; however, his music is influenced by the likes of Dylan and Waits. Inspirations are endless and ongoing, from the readings of Charles Bukowski and other beatniks to the darker gothic sounds of Eastern Europe.
From his album England’s Bleeding.
www.myspace.com/andyrobinsons
@andyrobinsons
 
Singapore tour with Planetary Music
For ten years, Planetary Group has been offering exciting touring opportunities in China, Scandinavia, and India.  It is now offering the opportunity to visit South East Asia – to the exciting city of Singapore – all expenses paid. 
This event is open to solo artists only.  Whether a singer/songwriter – or a solo project from a band – this tour is for artists who travel the road alone.  All styles of music will be considered.  One artist will be selected to perform five shows in Singapore at the well known Tab live music venue.  Planetary takes care of all expenses, including airfare, hotel, backline and per-diem for meals.  Artists will also be compensated $500 for their performance. 
The Deadline to apply is Feb 25th.
Link to apply: www.sonicbids.com/planetarytourofsingapore 
Please note: If you have an EPK with your band but perform and are submitting to this opportunity as a solo artist, you will be able to indicate this while submitting, as well as provide additional solo material. 
Artists can get more information about Planetary Group’s successful tour history by visiting Planetary Group’s website www.planetarygroup.com . Also, please read the FAQs on the website.
Previous artists to go on tour with Planetary include Hurricane Bells, Olafur Arnalds, Malajube, Locksley, Something To Burn, Damone, Superhoney,  Entrain, The Realistics, Sam Hopper Blues Trio, amongst others. 
What other’s have said about their Planetary experiences: 
Hurricane Bells had an amazing time in India. we were very well taken care of, and got to see lots of beautiful Indian culture while traveling and playing some great shows. it was truly a once in a lifetime kind of experience (although we would do it again in a heartbeat…) – Steve Schiltz, Hurricane Bells http://www.sonicbids.com/HurricaneBells , Tour India 2010M
I didn’t really know what to expect before going, thought it was just best to think of this as a nice trip, in case the shows would go horribly wrong… But it all went perfectly, the tour was amazingly well promoted and the shows turned out to be great! I have even been invited back in the autumn, got lots of good connections and even a contract with an agency over there. – Olafur Arnalds www.sonicbids.com/OlafurArnalds , Tour China 2010 Contest Winner 
 
Nothing left for us to find – My Cousin, The Emperor (Brooklyn, NYC)
Alt-country Brooklynites MY COUSIN, THE EMPEROR release their single disc, double EP entitled, THE SUBWAY EPs on March 29, 2011.  They have a string of shows with Caitlin Cary and Matt Douglas as THE SMALL PONDS.   The two groups will head down to Austin, TX for SXSW and back, hitting Raleigh, Charlotte, Asheville, Knoxville, Little Rock and Houston before turning around to come back through Atlanta, with more dates to be added.  
My Cousin, The Emperor’s SUBWAY EPs are separated into two volumes; Volume I being the acoustic PROSPECT PARK WEST and Volume II, the electric BROADWAY-LAFAYETTE, named after lead singer, guitarist and songwriter Jason Reischel’s two main stops between Brooklyn and Manhattan. Think of it as the mirrored counterpart to Dylan’s Bringing It All Back Home.
Dubbing it “really sweet Americana,” No Depression calls My Cousin, The Emperor’s upcoming release, “notably clean and well-imagined. This might be a good springtime road-trip album.  Good crisp air and sunshine music.”
“My Cousin, The Emperor, stands up for all that’s still right with the genre of country.” – Under the Radar Magazine
Wed, Feb 16 – Brooklyn, NY – The Rock Shop                                                                        
Thurs, Feb 24 – New York, NY – LES Film Festival
Tues, March 1 – Allentown, PA – VIP Elite Lounge @ Crocodile Rock
Thurs, March 3 – New York, NY – The Living Room
Tues, March 8 – Philadelphia, PA – The Fire
Wed, March 9 – Raleigh, NC – The Pour House
Thurs, March 10 – Charlotte, NC – Evening Muse
Fri, March 11 – Asheville, NC – The Emerald Lounge
Sat, March 12 – Knoxville, TN – Patrick Sullivans
Sun, March 13 – Little Rock, AR – Whitewater Tavern
Mon, March 14 – Denton, TX – Dan’s Silver Leaf
Tues, March 15 – Houston, TX – Big Star Bar
Fri, March 18 – Austin, TX – Red Eyed Fly
Sat, March 19 – Carrollton, GA – TBA
Sun, March 20 – Atlanta, GA – TBA
Stream their EP at: http://mycousintheemperor.bandcamp.com/
www.myspace.com/mycousintheemperor
www.mycousintheemperor.com
 
Anchar – Ibrahim Djo Experience (Mali / Niger / Algeria)
Tinariwen’s shadow hangs over all 12 tracks on the album Ishumar 2 New Tuareg Guitars, a compilation from various groups, from Mali, Niger or Algeria, but they have understood the need to move away from the original style. Like the current Tuareg youth who exchange mp3’s via bluetooth, these artists are open to the world and carry out bold hybridisation between Tuareg guitar and other music: rock (Tamkilwate), blues (Nabil Othmani), reggae and even a touch of rap (Amanar). 
The instruments are diversified with the introduction of the drums (Amanar), keyboards (Moussa SIdi), or even classical instruments (Kel Assouf).
Ibrahim Djo Experience “Anchar” (mp3) from “Ishumar 2 New Tuareg Guitars” (IRL) Buy at iTunes Music Store More On This Album
Dancing Shoes – Green River Ordiance (Forth Worth, Texas, US)
Oops – I think I may have mis-pronounciated this one, sorry, it is Green River Ordiance.
This past Fall marked the 10th anniversary of Green River Ordinance as a band. To say it’s been an up-and-down journey of extreme highs and lows would be an understatement. From their high school start to dropping out of college and buying a van to touring the country fifteen times over and eventually signing and departing with EMI/Virgin Records.
Since leaving EMI/Virgin, Green River Ordinance has self-released The Morning Passengers, an acoustic six-song EP that harks back to their Texas origins. “Dancing Shoes” opens softly with folky strumming and picking that make way for rootsy gear like harmonica, banjo, mandolin and warm tones from an old Hammond organ. Frontman Josh Jenkins should be commended for singing of pastoral subjects like country roads without affecting a Southern drawl.
www.greenriverordiance.com
www.facebook.com/gromusic
www.myspace.com/gro
@gro
 
Adnams – The Movie
A rather revealing short movie (just four minutes) that will give you an idea of what Adnams is about and why Suffolk ’n’ Cool is so pleased to be associated with the company. Give yourself a treat, spend four minutes in Southwold.
Watch it here.
 
Generations of My Fathers – Christina Vantzou (Brussels, Belgium)
SMM: Context is the first release in Ghostly International’s new yearly compilation series of evocative, exploratory music. 
In 2004, Ghostly International introduced SMM, an unknown acronym used to evaporate the already-unspooling musical boundaries between classical minimalism, electronic and drone composition, film soundtracks, and fragile imaginary landscapes. SMM: Context features a hand-picked selection of some of the world’s finest musicians from Poland, Germany, Denmark, Norway, North America and the UK who traffic in SMM’s slow-moving, texture-focused compositions, simple in instrumentation, but infinitely complex in execution.
You can hear the album at: http://ghostly.com/releases/smm-context and, despite rumours of the record industry being dead and gone, the 2xLP version is a limited edition of 800 units and comes in a 4-panel gatefold “tip-on” vinyl jacket (thick and heavy), 180 gram vinyl, and includes inner art sleeves. The artwork above includes the front and back covers, inner-panel jacket art and inner sleeve art. 
Christina Vantzou is one half of The Dead Texan (Kranky).  She is recording a solo album titled Timelessness as we speak. Christina is also known for her work in illustration, graphic design, audio-visual installations, drawings and more.  
www.christinavantzou.com/
www.myspace.com/christinaadam (The Dead Texan)
 
Boats (Swept Away) – I Am Not Lefthanded (London, UK)
It really is a long while since I played an I Am Not Lefthanded track, back on SnC 203, just over a year ago.
We don’t play pop music, we don’t write music for art’s sake, we don’t represent any movements, we’re not hip, we’re not cutting edge, we don’t dress to be cool. We manage ourselves, we write our own songs, we do our own recordings, we shoot our own videos, we design our own covers, we run our own website. We’re not generally negative people.  Oh yes, and we’re not lefthanded.
Fiercely independent, mostly-Irish but currently London-based, I Am Not Lefthanded are known for their homemade, quirky videos as much as their lyrical, evocative music.  Described as sounding like ‘Natalie Merchant fronting Death Cab for Cutie’, they’ve toured around the UK and Ireland alone and with Duke Special, The Rumble Strips and The Answering Machine.  In 2008, they released their debut mini-album, Yes Means No, on fast-rising UK indie Letterbox Records.  Receiving airplay on London, Irish and Scottish Radio, as well the lead track Long Goodbyes, featuring on the soundtrack for ‘Cruelty’.  They’re currently launching their follow-up EP, Time To Leave on an unsuspecting world…
Kathryn – Vocals/Guitar/Piano
Daniel – Vocals/Bass
Benji – Drums
The band are recording  their album live online. You can watch them write, rehearse and record at
www.iamnotlefthanded.com/studiodiary.html
www.iamnotlefthanded.com
www.myspace.com/iamnotlefthandedeither
www.jamendo.com/en/artist/I_Am_Not_Lefthanded
 
AMPed
This week Pete Cogle makes a welcome return to the AMPed hot seat for show 271 and from Monday morning, bright and early, even in the UK it’s going to be Dan Lynch of Rathole Radio with AMPed 272. Goodness knows what time the Americans have to get up to catch it while it’s hot.

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Here Come Natty Congo – Natty Congo and the Natural Blues (London, UK)
From the album Demo 1 on Jamendo.
“Michael West (born 27 August 1965, Tottenham, London.[1]), better known under the aliases Conquering Lion, Congo Natty, Rebel MC, Blackstar, Tribe Of Issachar, X Project, Ras Project is a jungle producer and toaster.[1] “Conquering Lion” is an abbreviation for “The Conquering Lion of the Tribe of Judah”, one of emperor Haile Selassie’s many titles.” – Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conquering_Lion)

Congo Natty

Conquering Lion aka Congo Natty aka Rebel MC is the stage name of Jungle producer and Toaster Michael West. “Conquering Lion” is short for “the Conquering Lion of the Tribe of Judah,” one of emperor’s Haile Selassie I of Ethiopia many titles.

www.jamendo.com/en/album/46054
www.congonatty.com
@congonattyrebel