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/

Dead or Alive (Single Mix) - Rick Page THE REVIEW

I first got to know Rick Page on MySpace some years back & at that time he was writing and recording an album with working title 'The Fence'. this album is now complete and one day hopefully released.

The track 'Dead or Alive' comes from that album but this release I am reviewing today is a single mix so different from one featured on the album. I was lucky to get two white label double discs of the album to hear the album & all it's different mixes & this track which opens the album is outstanding.

I looked into the back story and asked a few questions to help you the readers know what this hard fast full on rock track is about.
See we all have our hero in life all be it firemen, policeman, soldiers or nurses to TV The Lone Ranger, Superman or Batman. Well this song is based around two heroes of Rick's evolved into one character. The song was originally entitled 'White Steed' but after recording it Rick Page and James Marshall Black had a think about the title and as dead or alive was mentioned more times than white steed Rick decided to change it.

The original idea behind this song was just before 'Iron Man' the movie was released thinking of a hero in a metal suit another movie 'Robocop' came to mind, hence the line from the movie "dead or alive your coming with me" the lyrics then flowed along the lines what a hero would be doing for a town and of course a hero always rides a white horse or in robocop's case driving a silver patrol car.
Rick asked James Marshall Black who composed the music for the track to add sound effects of guns etc to make it sound like a gunfight in a street for the hero to come and save the day.

I (Ace MegaRex) asked James Marshall Black about the track & Rick's ideas & he replied...

"Rick asked me to add all the sound effects, and personally I think it was a stroke of genius. We now have this rather interesting super hero who wears a mixture of Iron man clothes and Knight's armour, carries a gun and a sword and charges around on a horse !!! I am considering re-visiting this song"

Well James indeed has revisted the song as the album track is now longer & bigger harder rock sound with amazing power vocals by Rick & harmony backing including James. Plus the single version still has that but has been remixed too so to give you two amazing versions of an epic of a track. I let a friend I know who worked with me on my old radio show DJ Rocky hear this track he said "this should be added to the epic rock opera tracks such as Meatloaf's 'Bat Out of Hell' as he has a steady fast build up to an epic climax"

The single is on sale now

You can buy on Amazon here by JMB records
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dead-or-Alive-Single-Mix/dp/B008M0MZRQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1345465703&s=dmusic&sr=1-1

SAMPLE
https://soundcloud.com/rick-page-1/dead-or-alive-sample-of-album

Sky 1 'Don't Stop Me Now' ....was a Breeze

How fantastic was it to see our Bre Kilpin AKA Breeze not only appear on
Sky 1's 'Don't Stop Me Now' but to win it too.

I first got to know of Bre via 'You Tube' and also her mother Heather who was supporting another project I was working on at the time. Soon as I heard those golden vocals it was "WOW".

Since I've known & been helping/supporting Breeze I have introduced her to various artists from many musical backgrounds all were totally blown away by her vocal talents.

First was Pete Waller AKA DeafboyOne who used Bre's vocal talents on an alternative cover of a classic track 'Don't Cry For Me Argentina' which stormed the Reverbnation charts and stayed No.1 almost all of 2009 left then took the top spot again.

She was also introduced to Steve Christopher (The Chain & Moondance) who worked with Bre & composed and recorded songs with her.
This Ocotober 6th in Chichester at The Venue Breeze will be appearing with The Steve Christopher Band a newly formed rock band featuring some very talented musicians.
Breeze will be performing the songs written for her so all exciting stuff and tickets for this event 'PartaY on till Dawn' can be brought via link below

http://www.eventbrite.co.uk/org/2512871828

So Well done Bre re -Sky 1 and cannot wait for the LIVE show hope to see some of you readers there too - Ace

THE ART OF WAR - Olivia In The Orchard REVIEW

I find it interesting how music is much like us humans where we live, move through life and pass on and we leave family trees spreading back generations.
In music connections from one artist to another seems to spread wild like roots of a tree.

It starts with the big legends and their influences which grow on other artists till we get to these new young artists who shine through with slight dustings of these original legends with a fresh sprinkle of something new.... their own personal touch.

Why am I saying this? Well through knowing one group Baby Scream who were influenced mainly by John Lennon who as we know was himself influenced by Elvis Presley, I have got to (like this family tree) find, discover another artist from this tree who is very much new, fresh in fact better word is refreshing.

Her artist name is Olivia In The Orchard. who signed late 2011 to OK Records.
She is a young singer songwriter from Worcestershire who when listening sounds so innocent in vocals but once you understand her lyrics & the structure of the songs and even the meaning of the composition you find there is one real smart cookie.

Many artists admit their influences like Olivia's base from original folk sound to artists such as Fleetwood Mac, Jefferson Airplane, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds but unlike other artists she does not obviously draw from them & their past classics but goes deep into old human cultures which is where 'The Art Of War' very much comes from.

Below is a review of this new release on OK Records to be released on 11th Feb on sites such as HMVdigital, Itunes, Amazon, play.com, virginmega.fr and many more.

THE ART OF WAR - The electric guitar opening to this reminds me of early T.Rex crossed with soundtrack to a U.S. TV show but it has this haunting sound that has a sort of a dramatic feel to it. Once the drums come in which Olivia says represents war drums the alternative folk sound really kicks in. The lyrics Olivia says is based on a story she once read about Native Indians 'The Girl Who Made Love To The Stars'. saying this thou Olivia has mashed cultures together to add a Chinese twist in the lyrics which makes it real neat & very clever.
as I said earlier her vocals sound very innocent and with harmony very enchanting.
It is sure a song that grows on you and the more you understand it's back story the more addictive it gets.

Mr. V.M. is a more up beat track drums by Mister OK Records himself Oliver Kirkham.
I love the vocals in this as Olivia tends to use the Chinese style in vocals structure use of chords, delivery. It makes the song very fresh & new and wanting more. The guitar layers sound raw but not in any bad way as they so work this way as it leaves that alternative sound that suits Olivia In The Orchard

The Art Of War (REMIX) I have played this to state of over kill since I received it as the production has made a great track to begin with into an epic. Olivia admits her writing she loves a song to build to a ultimate climax and this remix lives up to this.

I really recomend you checking out Olivia In The Orchard there is much more to come in 2012 for her with talk of an EP which I have already heard demo version of which is outstanding in it's demo format.

If you are on Facebook try this link below.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Olivia-in-the-Orchard/155694961193034?sk=app_178091127385

NEW ALBUM NEWS - Steve Christopher

Here is the latest news on Steve Christopher's 2nd album to follow 'MONNDANCE' featured on a previous blog.




Things are slowly progressing towards April as the release month for Album # 2.

On a recent radio show it appears to have assumed the name Partay til Dawn as the title track.. Who am I to argue. Tracks so far outlined and earmarked are:

Partay on til Dawn,

On the Level,

We are the Children,

Not letting go,

She will have her day,

Damned if I do (Currently my favourite),

Rock n Roll Mama,

Finally,

and W.Q.A.

The title for this last song comes from what was going through my mind when I had to save the work done on it. It does'nt really relate to the lyrics but it means. "What questions answered".

Partay... is what is suggests, Music... Parties.... Good sesh... You get the picture.

On the Level, is based on our recent re-involvement with children. Never lie to a child, always be open and honest and the rewards mostly will be trust and honesty back at you.

We are the Children, is along similar lines but more seeing the world through a childs eyes and heart. They need to be heard, loved and understood. That's our job as adults.

Not letting go, is a general opinion about how relationships can build and suffer because one partner was insincere in the beginning and folds the gaming table up and takes it with them (figuratively speaking)

She will have her day, is tracking the three main stages (very losely) of a girls growing from baby, to teenager to adult. I like the song and make no apologies for assumptions of the female psyche.

Damned if I do, is a remake of a song I originally recorded a couple of years ago called Drive to my Caravan. My partner Mel, felt that needed more work so I changed it completely and I love the result.

Rock n Roll Mama, was a throwback to my days jamming in Rock and Roll bands and doing sessions for anyone who would have me. It's tongue in cheek fun

W.Q.A, is purely written round a riff that I liked and expanded on. The lyrics grew as the recording went on about prejudices, reading a book by it's cover and about a particular one sided relationship I had with a very shallow person. You'll get the picture when you listen to the words....?

All these tracks are vocal tracks and as such are in keeping with the album mindset.

I sincerely hope you can get some enjoyment from this album. What will here is genuinely me exposed as a vulnerable person that has feelings. Just like you.

Steve Christopher

The Peppermint Apes EP review

I first found The Peppermint Apes on You Tube over a year or so ago and then was introduced more by tuning in to various radio shows and talking to Anne Cannon and Colin Stanton.

Before I had my own radio show back in February 2011 I was a guest on a radio station myself where I took in brand new tracks no one had heard to air as all exclusives for listeners. One of the bands that took part in this was The Peppermint Apes with an unreleased track called ‘Gotta Change’.

Why do I bring this up? Well the sound in that demo shocked everyone who tuned in that day as it was said by Colin Stanton (Manager) back then as a possible new direction. The feedback back then by all was WOW.

Well the year has flown by and now I am playing the new EP simply entitled THE PEPPERMINT APES with the new line up and yes this new direction.

Now with

Ryan Stanton - lead vocals, guitar and songwriter
James Fox – drums, B/V
Lewis Brown – bass, vocals
Luke Swift – keyboards B/V
Sean Markus – lead guitar, vocals

The band is as strong as it’s ever been

The tracks

‘All She Needs’ has a heavy drums/bass line which really pushes them more towards rock than pop. Keyboards sound between 80s U.S. rock to a touch of classic piano which really melds well into the drum/bass line.
It features a short bass solo which is awesome and I could easy imagine live that being extended to the crowds delight
Guitars on this are not so out front as to be expected but you can certainly hear them make the song complete and give that extra edge.
The vocals are as always with the band totally outstanding as Ryan when he sings makes every word feel believable and real as he sings with a passion and almost a sad heart ‘All She Needs Is You’.

‘Ain’t Going Down’ the opening guitar and drum rifts reminds me of classic Deep Purple especially with the added amazing keyboards taking me back to Don Airey sound.
The drums stand out so much in this track almost like thundering in beat throughout.
I find this track has everything as it rocks but also has again a touch of some beautiful classic piano, the sound too of guitar solos and amazing backing vocal harmonies that complement Ryan’s lead vocals to perfection.

‘Secrets Out’ love the guitar slap style throughout this, the sound by the boys is so compact and tight within this it is pure joy over playing this to my CD player screams NO MORE (*should of brought Duracell he laughs)

‘I have nothing to hide the secrets out’ a line goes and so true no secret here this track is outstanding, the band is outstanding say no more.
Pure rock/pop at it’s best.

‘Nothing At All’ (Remix) well how can you top perfection? This is often asked in music, I know have heard it asked many times over the years with various artists.

I was very much in a doubting frame of mind when I heard this track had been given a new sound and I do say NEW SOUND.

The original comes from the album ‘Against The Wall’ and this being one of my favourites tracks from the album I very much thought “oh no what have they done?”
See I loved the past acoustic radio version I once heard on a live jam and the album version so did not know what to expect here.

My fears were blown away once I played the track the drum beat is not so heavy, more further back in the mix as the original and the lead guitar is out front more with a sharper cleaner edge which to me gives it the stamped The Peppermint Apes sound we all love.

It also has a keyboards backing reminding me of classic Billy Joel. It has some very different backing harmonies that so bring this track to life.
Ryan’s vocals have some added effects midway which I say in a positive way as it gives the track a more NOW sound.

THE PEPPERMINT APES EP yes the secret is out

http://thepeppermintapes.co.uk

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