Lost Balloons by Baby Scream THE REVIEW

I have now lost count at how many reviews I have written on Baby Scream but each time it is always a pleasure.

Today's release is a FREE download on Eternal Sunday records entitled 'Lost Balloons'.

It reminds me of a bag of sweets children use to buy in UK from 1950s up to late
1960s called 'Jamboree Bag' as you buy it but not know what mix you get inside til you opened it or in this case press PLAY.

This album has such a wild mixed range Barry Parsons (CRMK Radio) told me "isn't it so awesome?"

The album kicks off with a short, quiet and relaxing acoustic 'We Are Against The System (One More Chance) which is a demo and sort of threw me really as with a title like that I expected a completely different sound.

As for track two 'Ball Of Fun' well you could be listening to any big name rock band as so heavy, in fact the most nearest to heavy metal I've heard Baby Scream. Talk about clearing the wax from your ears after track one
*NOTE - best played volume fully cranked

As the album moves on with 'I've Had Enough With You' we find we move more into a punk sound the sound sort of suits Juan Pablo Mazzola's vocals with really rough & agressive growl which is a far cry from his past Lennon influenced tones so many mention (including me).

This album has rock, punk, demo's and acoustic's but also it has a large number of cover versions.
The first cover on 'Lost Balloons' is a track first recorded by The Electric Prunes entitled 'Onie'. This is a wonderful acoustic & Juan's vocals are so soft & layered well to give a great pure sound with amazing backing by the band including a lovely piano solo.

'Revenge Of The Nerds' is a track you hear & swear you've heard before amazing guitar work & the drum beat gives an epic movie soundtrack feel to the song. Juan's vocals are rather haunting almost ghostly.

Don't be fooled by the start of the demo 'I Don't Wanna Wake Up From This Dream' as this rocks too or should I say R O C K S
I have played this track more than any other on the album.

'Barry's Blues' (The Groove Lounge) was recorded mainly as a radio jingle for Barry Parsons Wednesday's show on CRMK Radio. A Marc Bolan themed show Juan has appeared on a few times and I may add where I first met Juan. This track uses a Bolan style rift to give you the feel of what Barry's show gives you every week.

Now this track really confused me as it was the very first track I heard off 'Lost Balloons' sent by Juan. He said this is what my new album will be like, I played Tony Orlando's cover 'Tie A Yellow Ribbon 'Round The Old Oak Tree' and think huh!!!
My confusion soon passed when the cover was better than I expected as I had many doubts as the original was so cheasey & I was told by Juan that "trust me you love the album" he wasn't wrong.

'Sadly Beautiful' is a home acoustic cover of The Replacements which is so clear & again relaxes you to sink into a comfortable sofa & start to drift off to a world till BANG!!!! this loud rocking, punky fast, loud beat of 'When The Angel's Sing' a cover of Social Distortion shakes you to the foundations.

Don't think you can sit back down to relax again after that thou as what you think happens if I say it is followed by a two in a row of the Ramones covers 'Judy Is A Punk Rocker' and Beat The Brat' ?

CORRECT it sooooo rocks soooooooo punks up and I assure you there is full & total respect to the legends that were The Ramones so awesome.

The next two tracks are very personal to me as I first met Juan due to the original demo's on an acetate of Marc Bolan of these songs 'Song For A Soldier' and
'Reality'. The tracks were never released by Marc in his life time & sadly still have not been today as they are owned by a private collector. However Juan's take on these demo's are so fantastic there was much talk and interest & wait for them to become available. High Wire is another Marc Bolan cover (T.Rex) it is a wonderful acoustic ballad and I just love the vocals as Juan always shows his passion to Marc's work. Hard to believe this is only a demo.

The last two tracks of the album I was personally involved in as at the time I was working with DeafboyOne on a project entitled 'DUETS'. Pete Waller (DeafboyOne) who was (at time of recording) living in Sydney, Australia & I was finding artists around the globe to sing with him through the magic of Internet and Pete's master on the mixer friend/producer Rod Willner.

'Cosmic Dancer' was the 2nd take as Pete had recorded this on his own but Juan had requested to duet him on this track also. The sound of it being live was just so clever as really they were thousands of miles apart. I love too how adding bongoes gave it the old sound of Tyrannosaurus Rex which Marc's original of this classic he had moved away from.

As for 'Working Class Hero' it just had to be done as Juan is such a big fan of Lennon's & his vocals are always compared to his.
The duets introduced themselves to each other and are now good friends wanting at some point to meet up for real & record again.

That will be worth waiting for...

So that's my thoughts on this free download if you have not got all ready the link is below to go and do so - enjoy


Where to download full album & artwork FREE
http://www.eternalsunday.com.ar/promos/babyscreamlostballoons/

REVIEW - Secret Place by Baby Scream

Secret Place Review


I often wonder with all those millions of songs written & composed out there how many are there not finished, left only half written, half composed, in demo format. Tracks left within the composers mind never to be heard or left stored in some old computer hardrive never fully produced.

It is a scary thought to a music lover how many classics will never see the light of day.

Why am I saying all this? Well ‘Secret Place’ came about by chance for Baby Scream by them winning a competition held by City Government of Buenos Airs Argentina.
Winning 80 hours of studio time gave the band the opportunity to record tracks that in the past were left out of album projects or left mainly untouched for years or in one case staying within Juan’s mind in danger of being forgotten as much forever moves forward on to new projects.

It is this reason this album is so different to past releases, when I first heard of it I thought how can they better a real strong album like their last release simply entitled ‘Baby Scream’ which I have played so many times and love so?

Well I need not have worried as this album is just as strong but for different reasons.
I found it either hits you hard from the start and you’re addicted or you find it keeps growing on you due to the multi layers, directions and flavors of music and stories held within it.

On to the tracks

First to start the album off is ‘The Last Call’ which reminds me of Marc Bolan not in vocals style but the use of chord structure. Marc was said by many including David Bowie as often playing chords that should not work but always flowing beautifully becoming classics. On this track there are a few such chords that just should not work but sound totally awesome.
The lyrics that stand out for me and I noticed others too is ‘I wouldn’t care about tomorrow, tomorrow never cared for me, you see. This is your only chance to be’ Those few lines alone are so strong as so many of us plan for the future looking ahead and not living for the day, the now. The whole song is like this giving more examples similar to that line above that can make you think. The music has a touch of 80s keyboards with Beatles style guitar but so kicks off the album.

The second track is the track released off the album as a single and Juan happily admits is one of his favorites and it is ‘Hit And Run’ it does not take you long within this to hear that love for John Lennon within the track and delivery and vocals. Juan admits he often tries to emulate Lennon’s writing but still staying as original to himself and Baby Scream as possible. This track is one of those tracks that may never have been heard as the tune and main structure had been only floating around within Juan’s mind for two years never coming out to be recorded. So I am so pleased for this competition win to see this amazing track come to be FINALLY.
The sound is very 70s in guitar style those guitar rifts you remember sitting in the sun when it was safe to do so listening to this style of beautiful guitar work to lyrics of love with your courting partner by your side. You play this track a few times and you get this odd feeling like you’ve known it all your life.

The third track is the title track from the album ‘Secret Place’ and should have been on a past released album ‘Monsters’ but it was felt back then it would not of fitted and personally not having the pleasure of hearing that album yet I cannot agree or disagree. However on this album it fits just fine as it has that happy 90s style country beat. I love the chorus so catchy you just want to jump in and join in. The thought of the lyrics I think appeal to all of us as we all have or want a secret place to go to, to think, to be alone to be or feel secure to just feel happy and recharge our souls. Myself I head off up the National Park near me up on to the high Sussex Downs (Mountains) and feel free for a while. So hearing the lyrics I got it real fast what was trying to be said.

Track four ‘Going North’ is a mix sound of the 70s and 90s which to you who have not heard it yet I know cannot even imagine. Saying that the lyrics bring a darker mood to the album so far talking about caring for yourself and having the right to do so. Listening to the lyrics and working within the care services when not working in music it reminds me of so many out in our community who simply don’t care or prefer to look after themselves it is a thing we should have the right to decide I think. Anyway listen to the dark lyrics and make your own mind up (he says smiling).

‘Cold Weather Reggae’ the fifth track even Juan admits he felt it weird as Baby Scream just has never recorded such songs. Thing is it works so well and to those who have heard the album they all point this out as one of their most favorite tracks off the album. It is not JUST Reggae but also contains a form of progressive rock with some fantastic keyboards that give the album extra depth. The whole mixture within this song you think to a lover of music does not add up if a conclusion in a sum in mathematics the teacher would say NO but it does makes one amazing sound very refreshing. What I love is Juan’s vocals fits reggae so well, well I thought I never ever say that.

‘Bad Seed’ the sixth track I was so in to this as I know this so much, a song about a bad childhood but what I got so well was what the song was about. We all had in our life’s people we thought were friends who lie and cheat to ruin something good so they sound better. Well I had a school friend like this who in later years even thought these lies were his past history. Such a good liar he even convinced himself they were true.
Well this is what the song is about such people that go around doing this to maybe to get out of a life where they feel so small and do something they believe to be only fun.

‘Patiently’ track seven in another favorite track from the album for Juan and was inspired by Juan listening to groups like Matchbox 20 which he was into around late 90s - 2000 the track is not a direct impersonation or emulation thou very much still Baby Scream in style. What lyrics stand out are ‘if you have no feeling how can you feel’ so true today in a very much loveless society. The guitar solo in this really rocks and I just love also Juan’s vocals as his emotions clearly flow out to tell the story of using your feelings. This is what I love about Juan and Baby Scream as a whole they always so good at story telling and acting out each character within the songs.

A good song writer not only writes about good things in their life’s like loves of their life’s, wonderful memories but a good writer also enters their own dark side. Here on track eight ‘London Sun’ Juan writes about his first panic attack while visiting London. Now these things if you’ve not had one are bad enough but the first I must say is the scariest of them all, the thoughts that go through your head within split seconds are indescribable, well they were till now. The music I feel also becomes part of telling the story too it let’s you feel that feeling of fast rush then slow return to reality so amazing how the words and music work so well together.

Track nine ‘Atmosphere’ can confuse you completely very clever I thought as I cannot recall this being done before so well….what? You say, well the music is composed as very depressing with very haunting sad violin and cold wind effects blowing but yet the lyrics are more uplifting again like other tracks on this album you just read about their structure and feel this should not work yet it is one amazing piece of music and gives me great believe that out their still are amazing song writers as it just threw me how well this works. As the lyrics say IT SETS ME FREE

The final track ‘Eating My Face’ is written about a dream or more a nightmare Juan once had so based on again real experience with Juan’s life. We all have nightmares that wake us in a cold sweat in the middle of the night & this dream I feel is one I could have had as once when I was living in Australia I went to a restaurant and was served a meal that looked like some painting of the outback that should be on a wall. I looked at this confused “do I eat it or take it home and hang it on the wall” imagine thou being served a dinner looking like your face NIGHTMARE. Seriously thou this song so ends the album well, an album which is so different in styles it is like going into a supermarket buying random items off the shelf and playing them and sitting back thinking “Wow, must do that again sometime”.

The final track is the B side to the single ‘Hit And Run’ and it is Juan’s cover of the late Marc Bolan’s ‘20th Century Baby’ now I find this so personal and close to this as early 2011 I was guest on a radio show CRMK Radio ‘The Groove Lounge’. It was my birthday that day too and for my guest appearance long before I had a radio show of my own I decided to take in brand new tracks no one had heard to air on radio. Many artists so kindly recorded or gave me exclusive tracks fresh from their studios and this was what Juan so kindly sent me to air that Feb. I remember playing it before going on air and thinking his vocals are incredible and when I talked to Juan later he said how it is one of his most loved Marc Bolan numbers which was never released in Marc’s life time.
The emotion you can hear within his vocals tell how he misses one of his idols and shouts respect. On air Barry and I thought it very brave to open your emotions within a song such as this which really makes this a true tribute to Marc Bolan.





WHERE TO BUY ALBUM
http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/secret-place/id449771741
Where to find out more about Baby Scream
www.babyscream.com
Where to find more videos on Baby Scream
www.youtube.com/babyscream

REVIEW – Baby Scream ‘Identity Theft’

Here I am again reviewing Juan Pablo Mazzola AKA Baby Scream
This time a 7 track EP entitled ‘Identity Theft’ which is a very TODAY name I feel as identity theft becomes a daily topic and something we all have to be aware of in our daily life’s.
This is very apt title especially when the opening line in the first track ‘Be’ says “be yourself and no one else” running at only 00:01:12 this opening track maybe short but gives the message across that the world is yours so be yourself and no one else and if we think about it at times we all do often try to be like someone else and hide the real person within.The track is a lovely acoustic with Juan’s voice sounding on top form soft and full of emotion.
The second track ‘Dead Woman Walking’ is more up tempo and again has a strong message on life. How many of us are just walking around each day running on empty with our life’s rushing by? One day it dawns on you that most your life has flown by.
As you grow older friends get lost along the way all very thought provoking lyrics.

This EP is more acoustic based than ‘Ups and Downs’ but the track ‘Memories’ has this lovely US style almost country slide guitar with the acoustic that makes this one of my favorites. Juan sings of memories based around his backyard and hey! As kids don’t we all have those type of memories too? When life was much more simple and less stressful and everything you needed was in that backyard.

Now the track ‘Nicole’ got my attention mainly cause not long before I first heard this I met up with my dear friend Nicole from Switzerland who while talking music stated that there had never been a song with her name in that she could recall.
When I later played her this there was a big smile. The music arrangement has a mix of electric, strings & bongos and compared to Juan’s other EP ‘Ups and Downs’ his voice is more Juan not so much Lennon style appearing which in a way is a good thing as even thou I love that Lennon feel I also love to hear an artist be themselves which this EP really shows more of.
Till that is you get to another real short track at 00.01.22 in length but Juan’s vocals in ‘Underground Blues’ reminds me of Lennon’s ‘Rock’n’roll’ album with that real rough raw sound. If anything I feel this track could have been longer as it has so much more to offer.

Now a few of my friends all seem to love this track ‘Ojos Orientales’ it sort of stands out alone as a wonderful song. As in the title it has that slight Oriental sound and feel to the song. The guitar work plays a character for sure in this track as it really helps to take you where Juan wants you to be. The vocals and backing are outstanding and if I had to only pick one song to highly recommend it would be this one.

The final track comes round way too soon ‘Mucho Mungo’ has that wonderful bongo sound that almost takes you to some tropical island before Juan has even sang a word.
The guitar work is very Argentinean/ Spanish in style which is so beautiful

…‘Identity Theft’ shows growth in the past few years, shows there is a lot more to come from Baby Scream.

Check out or buy the EP here -

http://www.tradebit.com/filedetail.php/95490541-baby-scream

Baby Scream Ups and Downs EP Review

 

Juan Pablo Mazzolla AKA Baby Scream and the review of ‘Ups and Downs’.
Now this is an EP but with 12 tracks it can easy be called an album for sure with plenty of real strong tracks that stand out on there own.

It kicks off with an unusual acoustic that seems odd to start an EP off with ‘Away’.
What I mean by odd is I just felt it is strange that a slow ballad starts off the EP but hey! That maybe the old DJ in me coming out that always starts the show with something more up beat so really not saying this is a bad thing it just threw me.

The track has a slight 70s feel in music style at the start (backing effects) till you have gone halfway in where it goes up a few notches to this sound that reminds me of a cross between George Harrison & Jeff Lynne.
Now I don’t like comparing to other artists with vocals or sound but that is best way for those who have not heard track to know what it sounds like to me.
Vocals on this track I can’t compare with anyone which is good as Juan’s voice is clear, smooth with great pitch and he sort of let’s you slip into this safe feeling that this is his voice (always) till later in the album you hear more stronger depths of raw energy.

Now an artist I work with compared Juan’s voice to John Lennon & even Juan admits he is aware these tones come out every now and again within tracks. Now over the years
I have spoken to many artists and I remember a few saying that they truly believe the one artist that has given you the strongest influence in life often appears within your performance often not noticed by the artist.

‘Suddenly’ this is a very NOW sound and it is one of the tracks that stands out and I love the electric guitar work in this track. I just get into this and another fantastic track follows ‘Mars’. Being an old sci-fi fan I love the story behind the song and you could easy add the name Major Tom and this could slip in with such classics from Bowie.
As for ‘Everyday (I Die A Little bit)’ this is where you hear not only the whole EP crank up some with a real powerful music arrangement but you hear the strength I talked about earlier in Juan’s vocals it really rocks.
The track ‘One More Chance’ is the first time I hear that Lennon feel and quality in Juan’s vocals all in a good way. The guitar work is amazing in this love the solo mid way really makes this track a much played one for me.
The next track ‘The Riots’ was the first self composed track I ever heard of Juan and it has a touch of Marc Bolan in the theme (Cosmic Dancer) as it touches on reincarnation.
I feel everyone has to listen to this & listen to the words and what is spooky the backing vocals by Juan is so Lennon more than before so it almost gives you an illusion of a duet.
Funny thing about ‘Ups and Downs’ the title track is it returns to the first track where you hear classic Juan acoustic sound & that clear pure vocals you cannot compare to others.
‘Morning Light’ has an almost 80s Rolling Stones in sound.
What I like about the EP is these sudden changes in sound as it shows you Baby Scream is not just about acoustic guitars. Again this features some wonderful electric guitar work.
The next track ‘Walls Crumbling Down’ goes up beat again with yet again another NOW sound it rocks, has power & vocals has that raw, rough edge.
‘Unwelcomed’ again has that touch of raw energy in Juan’s vocals & the beat varies from slow tempo to fast upbeat which works really well.
When you get to next track you just can’t believe the EP has flown by so fast ‘World from Outside’ to me has that Beatles sound which I really love and again a track you really got to follow the lyrics to enjoy it fully.
Then you get to ‘Skyway’ and cannot believe you’re at the end of the EP and it ends as it started with Juan being Juan with acoustic sound and that pure clear voice.
‘Ups and Downs’ is like a journey as you play from start to end going through many styles and if the songs were colours this EP would surely be a rainbow.

Ups and Downs – a pure delight

Buy the EP / check out the tracks at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/babyscream

Check out more Baby Scream with ‘Identity Theft’

Baby Scream

Juan Pablo Mazzola AKA Baby Scream THE BOLAN COVERS


Now some may say what does Ace MegaRex know about Marc Bolan covers?
Well for the past 2 years I have been working on a CD album with one artist on Bolan covers, a download album with another & other various projects as a PR all around Marc Bolan’s music.

I first got to know the name firstly Baby Scream then later same day Juan Pablo Mazzola via a radio station CRMK Radio. I was sent these two very old recordings taken from an acetate of Marc Bolan ‘Reality’ and ‘Song for a Soldier’. The DJ at the time did not say why he sent them just to say it be a surprise later. To hear Marc Bolan and these very old Bob Dylan style recordings was a thrill as I had not heard them before. The guitar very rough almost scratchy for its age thou the vocals very clear. To say I could not wait till the 4pm radio show to find out the surprise is an understatement.
A few minutes into show the DJ tells us he has Baby Scream with him as a guest & for most part of the show in sections was his interview & music from Juan Pablo Mazzola AKA Baby Scream.
He left us waiting a bit till he played these two Bolan covers which really got my attention after all not long ago I just heard the originals for first time.
See many artists take on the classics and they all have various reasons for doing so but to take an unknown selection from an artist who has a massive back catalogue of known classics was really interesting to me especially hearing from Juan why.
When I heard ‘Reality’ and that acoustic guitar sounding so clear it made me wish more artists take on Marc’s unknown or unfinished songs. The arrangement all be it a simply one worked so well with Juan’s vocals and hearing him talk of his respect for Marc on the radio you could just tell this within the song to be true.
After hearing other tracks from Baby Scream from his two earlier EPs ‘Ups and Downs’ and ‘Identity Theft’ I could tell Juan had put some of himself into this track. There is still talk of adding maybe strings to the song but I feel even thou that will work and be fantastic it is the perfectionist within Juan coming out which I see in many good artists.
As for ‘A Song for a soldier’ how different can a song be? Again original by Marc guitar very scratchy & vocals even more in style of Dylan but the words very 60s anti Vietnam sounded very much the movement of the time it was recorded unlike many other Bolan that seem to never age. Then comes Baby Scream and to hear the intro of drums almost like a march then in comes electric guitars that have an almost late punk feel to them which is very fitting as Marc was known as Godfather of punk it gave a whole totally amazing new feel it really rocks.
What really got me too was the guitar rift at the end of the track starts off subtle then into a roar really reminded me of the classic Bolan was known for & to fade out with this guitar fits so well. It showed that Baby Scream is not an artist who just plays acoustic numbers he ROCKS too and since hearing this one track I have heard many such class numbers by him.
I personally feel the way Juan has recorded this track he has really brought it into our decade and given a today feel to it.
Both these songs affected me so much I had to write to Juan & since we have spoken much of his future ideas & direction in music.
Also these past weeks I introduced Baby Scream to an artist I work with DeafboyOne to record a duet ‘Working Class Hero’ which has amazing sound and through those two Bolan covers and a radio show I have met a real talented new friend.

Please enjoy everything that is Baby Scream - Ace MegaRex




www.babyscream.com
www.youtube.com/babyscream
www.myspace.com/babyscream