Former lead singer from the Grammy nominated band, Katrina and The Waves, was born in Topeka, Kansas, U.S.A, and grew up with the West Coast sound (Fleetwood Mac, Linda Ronstadt, Emmylou Harris, Heart). Katrina’s father was a Colonel in the USAF who was stationed in California, New Mexico, Florida, Georgia, Massachusetts, Nebraska and Alabama and so Katrina moved seven times while she lived in the U.S.A. and lived in Germany and Holland until, at the age of 16, Katrina arrived in England, where she met fellow American and future Wave, Vince de la Cruz.
As a singer, Katrina was inspired by Motown, Stax and American rock as well as girl groups such as The Shangri-Las and The Shirelles. In 1983 Katrina and Vince formed Katrina and The Waves with Englishmen Alex Cooper and Kimberley Rew.
Katrina and The Waves had their first big break in 1984 when The Bangles covered their song ‘Going Down To Liverpool’. This drew attention to the group and lead to an international deal with Capitol Records.
Katrina and The Waves appeared on Johnny Carson twice.
The band’s first album was produced by Scott Litt, who went on to produce REM and Nirvana – it was his idea to add the drum intro to ‘Walking on Sunshine’ which made it irresistible to radio DJs. The first Capitol album, ‘Katrina & The Waves’ released in 1985, was a substantial critical and commercial success and ‘Walking on Sunshine was a worldwide hit earning top ten spots around the globe. (No. 9 US, No.8 UK, No.3 Canada, No.4 Australia). Since then, the song has been broadcasted over 2,500,000 times in the U.S. and was the highest played track on radio in the Summer of 2008.
From a friendship of almost thirty years, The Father Phil and his buddy Vanessa play sweet original songs that tell of our lives in the OklahomaHellMouth and other experiences. A blend of folk, outlaw music, and satire we aim to entertain and educate.
Long ago a great band was formed into THE BAND of all bands. Setting in stone their place in rock history, and better yet all of history changing the world forever. Our rise to glory has been a steady struggle from our humble formation at The Crossroads open mike night, to our journey into the stars. We have come to liberate your face. Recognize
SUSHI was originally the creative project of guitarist Arsalan and Kevin “D” Williams adding drums, but on Oct. 24th 2013 Noah Corona introduced two of his friends D and Arsalan to his friend Yoshi (bass) to jam out some music. All those present at The Damen Skatehouse were astonished as an inst-a-band was formed.
2 songs were written on the spot and in just a few weeks SUSHI had nearly a full set and started playing it’s first shows.
Noah Corona saw all he needed and decided that he would front SUSHI with some punk vocals…after they got some tacos…
Cut Teeth is a band whose formation came out of plain necessity. As each member’s previous bands (The Felix Culpa, Stay Ahead of the Weather, Red Knife Lottery, Monday’s Hero) either dissolved or began to hibernate, the need for a new outlet became more and more urgent – that same urgency has acted as a catalyst for the music made by this Chicago four-piece.
When the band decided to begin writing songs together in early 2011, it was without any specific intentions or pretense other than to simply put the sort of songs into the world that they’d all been wanting to hear. The result resembles an aggressively angular, riff-laden amalgamation of four distinct personalities, venturing into varying levels of calculated disarray with bookish commentary and an occasional hook.
In early 2012, Cut Teeth self-released its debut EP, Televandalism. After garnering some positive whispers about town, the EP fell into the laps of Kevin and Seth at Topshelf Records, who graciously gave it a proper digital and vinyl release in the summer of the same year. The band’s full-length debut is to be expected in the fall of 2014. At that time, it is recommended that you put on the headphones, do whatever it is that you do to unwind, and enjoy.
Tom Holland & the Shuffle Kings have been playing the blues worldwide for over 25 years, regularly appearing at clubs and festivals worldwide. Years on the road with blues legends such as John Primer, Eddy Clearwater, and most recently James Cotton have made Tom Holland one of the most in demand blues artists on the scene today!
Though properly formed in the spring of 2013, Still Lives began as early as 2010 with front man Steve Early and his array of sing along tunes occupying coffee shops and dive bar stages. A few years later Andrew Contreras and Josh Riede joined the three of them began performing under the name Still Lives. They played as a three piece for a year until the spring of 2014 when Jack Schwent and Blake Early joined the roster. Since then Still Lives has been rocking dive bars and music venues across the Midwest. If you’re into gritty alternative acoustic rock then Still Lives is right up your alley!
Chicago four-piece mired in growl and spook. Debut 7″ record release party Valentines Day at Hideout! Live band burlesque at Honky Tonk BBQ every 4th Sat.
Karizma (Morgan Parriott) started rapping in 7th grade with his best friend. Working every single day, he is becoming a known name in the competitive Minnesota Hip-Hop scene.
He has opened for and shared the stage with nationally known artists such as Asher Roth, Brother Ali, St. Paul Slim, Slug of Atmosphere, Astronautlais, Mod Sun, Hi-Rez, & Huey Mack, Chris Webby, DJ Abilities and more!
Striving to continue pushing meaningful hip-hop music, Karizma is working on his next project, Sober, which is set to be released May, 2014. Following that with a midwest tour… Let’s see what happens
Los Angeles rapper, KR, is definitely making himself known in the Hip-Hop community. Having appeared in The Source’s “Unsigned Hype” column and XXL’s “The Break,” KR is poised to become a household name. Over the last year and a half, the 19-year old has released three installments of his ‘I$0LYF3’ mixtape series. These three tapes have garnered attention from the likes of 2Dopeboyz, Illroots, Karen Civil, Daily Loud, The Source, XXL and Complex, with the latter premiering his last installment. As the momentum continues to build, KR’s vision and overall message will remain clear and precise. If 2013 and 2014 are any notion of his success to come, 2015 will surely be the year KR delivers his breakthrough.
A native of Los Angeles, California’s Hollywood region, Matthew Musto was known as a fledgling, rock-leaning singer/songwriter until he co-wrote Justin Bieber’s “Boyfriend,” a number two hit on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2012. Around the same time, he reinvented himself as a rapper and more R&B-oriented singer through the self-released Sex, on which he was joined by fellow “Boyfriend” co-writer Mike Posner, James Blake, and Maejor Ali. He also appeared on MGK’s Lace Up. An EP, The Afterglow, followed in 2014. Another big stride was taken the next year with Deadroses, a self-released set of tracks that registered on Billboard’s Uncharted listing of releases from upcoming artists.
Sun God Ra is the sonic weight of the Universe. It is the sound of the world made audible. Cosmic energy distilled into music. Sounds of the Sun. Hail Ra.
TanZen is a Chicago-based Djent/Extreme Metal band. Formed in the spring of 2013, they have played countless shows and gained a strong local following.
PlanetRAWK is an American alternative electronic rock band based out of Atlanta, Georgia. The band was started by alternative indie artist, Charlie Ahanotu (ex-front man of StereoTALK). In 2010 Charlie began writing and performing as PlanetRAWK, which is described as “Alternative Dirty South Rock Fusion”. He incorporated the use of futuristic synth and modern rock to create an aggressive blend of alternative hip hop. Members MikaH Bahamut, and Ashley Fayt came along adding their own influences, and since then they’ve been making memorable performances across the nation multiple times and counting.
Slide guitarist and singer-songwriter Eric Sardinas has a reputation for packing intensity into his live performances. Since the late-90s’ Sardinas has taken the stage thousands of times across the globe, with audiences growing exponentially each passing year. His six albums have displayed a distinct style that musically pushes the boundaries of rock and blues, and the world has taken notice.
Now Sardinas has put his onstage lighting in a bottle for the new album Sticks & Stones, an 11-song powerhouse of his trademark slide guitar that is a vehicle to drive his inspiration from the roadhouse in to mainstream music. Sardinas’ unique mixture weaves his heavy blues and rock threads in to a flamethrower to the listener and takes them on a ride encompassing the past, present and future of what music is meant to be.
“Playing with intensity all over the world non-stop and loving every minute of it has been my inspiration,” Sardinas explains. “That’s why I get up in the morning and what I live for. Making music keeps me in the moment, allowing my heart to speak to people.”
More fans have heard that voice with each tour Sardinas and his band Big Motor have made, and with each of the previous six albums he’s recorded. Those discs include 2003’s live-in-the-studio Black Pearls, which was produced by Jimi Hendrix’s engineer Eddie Kramer, and 2009’s Eric Sardinas and Big Motor, helmed by Matt Gruber.
Gruber, whose credits range from Ricky Martin and Carrie Underwood to the Scorpions and Lit, returns for Sticks & Stones — an album that Sardinas says captures the full range of his playing and the energy and excitement of the trio’s ‘Big Motor’ sound. “It’s really about pushing myself,” Sardinas continues. “My goal is to keep growing every time I play, which is why there is so much musical freedom in improvisation when Big Motor performs live.”
For Sticks & Stones, the trio approached the studio with a no holds barred approach. Whether acoustic and electric, they stayed true to their live sound, recording with no rules. Levell Price (bass) and Chris Frazier (drums), join Sardinas in delivering a kaleidoscope that melds all the shades and hues of the band’s intensity. “As always, every note is meaningful and has something to say from each player,” says Sardinas.
His instrument of choice is his signature electrified resonator guitar (pictured above). Sardinas modernized an instrument made famous by traditional Blues artists in electrifying the instrument, and expanding the usual spectrum of what these guitars historically deliver musically. It is Eric’s connection and homage to his roots, and in finding his own voice, comes the electrified resonator. His trademark expression and words to live by are “Respect Tradition,” and the resonator is a deep part of this.
By deftly controlling his guitar’s volume Sardinas can make the resonator emote the mood he’s feeling with its acoustic energy or electrified growl, as it does during the breakdown on Sticks & Stones’ pure spirited country blues “County Line,” or roar like a lion on the hard-driving “Full Tilt Mama” and “Road To Ruin.” The latter features one of Sardinas’ highest flying slide solos: a sexy, sizzling break that’s a perfect fusion of gutty energy and piquant melody — two qualities Sardinas displays in spades.
The chugging instrumental “Behind the 8” puts his slide to the fore. One reason for his always-recognizable sound is his signature slide. The Dunlop company has begun reproducing a replica of the brass pipe that travelled a million miles with Sardinas. The calibration, weight, and wear of the infamous ‘preaching pipe’ has become accessible to players worldwide. Sardinas shares, “the original pipe has so much mojo on it from over a decade of worldwide travel, and being by my side through every beer soaked bar and venue the road has to offer, the original is now only used for studio. To Sardinas, it is irreplaceable. He offers, “If Dunlop offered me a million bucks for it, I’d have to turn it down.”
The common thread in all the tunes on Sticks & Stones is the essence of affairs of the heart – passions, hopes and dreams are all inspirational in a positive and negative way to Sardinas. He shares, “I like writing about universal themes. The trick is to find my own unique way of expressing myself within those themes. Every breathing moment if you walk with yours eyes open, there is song there.”
A Florida-born Sardinas picked up a guitar at age six. He was inspired by the energy of roots music from his mom’s soul, Motown, gospel, and early rock n’ roll collection. From his elder brother, classic rock was always being played. Sardinas reflects, “Music was always heard in the house. I woke up to, and fell asleep to it. Still do”. In his teens, he submersed himself in the Blues. “That was it for me,” he says. “In blending my influences, I found my own sound. I feel very fulfilled being able to make this music my life for more than 20 years now. And my goal is to keep growing and improving, and to respect this music and stick by it the way its has supported and inspired me.”
The Traveling Suitcase creates a landscape of dominate independent rock and roll. Breaking loose from tradition leadsinger/drummer Nicole Rae is sparked with emotion, animation and discipline. Rae’s voice and lyrics are captivating while the band collectively compliments each performance.
“Flawlessly tight with infectious melodies & tons of soul.” – Relix “Full of rocking blues, soul, and depth.” – Huffington Post “An act to get behind.” – USAToday
The Inventors are a four piece Chicago based rock band. Formed in the summer of 2014, The Inventors draw influence from many different types of music and art. Members Joe Mango, Nick Kieta, Grant Ossler, and Ray Skamay all bring unique perspective and a personal touch to the music of The Inventors. The Inventors are currently working on their debut EP, which should be out in early 2015.
For those unfamiliar, Tory Lanez, AKA Argentina Fargo, is an emerging emcee/vocalist born in Toronto, Ontario and raised throughout the United States Of America (though predominantly Georgia, California and Texas).
Throughout his young career, Tory’s collaborated with the likes of Soulja Boy, Bun B, boi-1Da, Sean Kingston, RL Grime, Scott Storch, DJ Mustard, Dizzy Wright, Meek Mill, YG, DJ Drama, Kirko Bangz, G-Eazy, Rockie Fresh and many more.
Don’t sleep on this young lord, folks – he shows strong promise. His cult fan base, known as the SWAVENATION, is “a society without borders”. Consider joining it.
The music of Lil Kim, Mos Def, The Notorious B.I.G, Big Daddy Kane, and Jay-Z has resonated throughout the airwaves for decades. These artists have been influential to people around the world and are considered to be “Gods” of Hip Hop. Though they have impacted the nation with their lyrical content and extraordinary delivery, no one place has been more impacted than that of Brooklyn, Bed-Stuy to be exact. The music of these “Gods” has given birth to many artist in the industry that have come and gone. Their most recent creation brings a different quality and uniqueness to Hip Hop that has not been touched in mainstream Hip Hop before. Siya, The Bed-Stuy Bully, is definitely a product of her environment when it comes to music.
Born in California, Siya was relocated to New York at the age of seven while her mother fought a drug addiction. Soon after moving to Bed-Stuy, her father was convicted of a crime that sentenced him to a lifetime incarceration. Siya’s major influence in life was her grandmother. She provided the mother that she was lacking and natured her like her own, but the streets of Bed-Stuy played their own roll in her life. Siya was convicted of a crime at a young age were she would serve sometime in a women’s facility. During that time she was able to take the negative and turn it into a positive as she began to perfect her music in ways many would take notice to. After her time was served, Siya immediately took to Atlanta to begin pursuing music as her lifetime career. Performing in venues such as, Compound, CW Loft, and Masquerade, her buzz began to catch the attention of many major labels and also well-known artists. Meeting after meeting labels would feed Siya the dream of signing her to a major deal. As time went on, all those talks were just that. Most people were afraid of how an openly gay female rapper would fit in the industry compared to the women out at that time. As discouraging, as this could have been Siya remained determined and continued to kill shows and made sure when she opened for a big named that they took notice.
In the midst of her grind someone did take notice. R&B legend Tank reached out to Siya and let her know he wanted to represent her and help take her to the next level. Soon after their talks Siya moved to Los Angeles and began her journey with Tank. Tank, a unique talent his own, did not want Siya to change a thing. He believed in who she is and wanted her to continue to be “The Bed-Stuy Bully.” Their debut project together “D.Y.K.E” featuring their collaboration track, “D.Y.K.E” has gained over 50 thousand downloads. The relationship has shown to be beneficial to both and is gaining speed on a daily. Word around the industry is that Siya is the “Next Big Thing,” but if you were to ask her she’s always been the “NEXT BIG THING.”
Many of the most recognizable artists and bands can be discerned within seconds of hearing the music, and TCS is no different. Boerner’s soulful guitar combined with the frenetic fusionesque sound of Taylor’s drums and Cosby’s bass make for a collage of infectious grooves, melodies, and catchy songs.
After only a few moments of listening to TEAR OUT THE HEART, the infectious choruses and sinister vocals will be ringing in your head for days to come. Elements of hardcore combined with dark and aggressive metal is what makes TEAR OUT THE HEART’s signature sound. With a promising musical career ahead of them the Midwestern quintuplets inked a deal with Victory Records in August 2012 and will soon be leaving their mark on the metal community. Hailing from St. Louis, Missouri, TEAR OUT THE HEART formed in 2011 and is comprised of lead vocalist, Tyler Konersman, Isaac Etter on bass/clean vocals, guitarists Josh Spohr and Matthieu Murphy and Matt Epstein on drums. The inception of the band was founded on the principle that there are to be no “weak links” in the group. The band unanimously agreed that when this lineup had gotten together in one room it was instant energy and everything just clicked. From that day on the rest was history.
Stolen Silver is the musical culmination of a decade-long friendship between songwriters Levi Britton and Dan Myers. It’s a union that dates back to their days as roomates in Chicago’s Logan Square neighborhood, one that entails a history as previous touring bandmates, collaborators, and, most importantly, singers. Their voices are instruments, effortless and vital to their mutual craft. On their self-titled EP co-produced with John Ovnik, their styles swerve along a spectrum that spans from Indie-Folk to Americana, from Pop-Rock to more explorative soundtrack moments where the space in the songs are equally important to their narrative, undoubtedly due to Myer’s work as a film composer. This new chapter takes them into unfamiliar territory both in the studio and on the stage, where ideas are fresh and nothing is left unattempted. Their sound is quickly evolving, as is their lineup. Since their initial vision of a folk duo, they’ve expanded to a full six-piece assembly, a determined collection of seasoned multi-instrumentalists and drummers. Half the band resides in Chicago while the other hails from Traverse City, Michigan- a circumstance that forces them out on the road yet leaves plenty of room for both immediacy and intimacy to take shape.
Over the past three years, praise and momentum continue to build. Their hard work has delivered headlining bills at LA’s Hotel Café and Chicago’s renowned venues Hideout, Empty Bottle, Ravinia and Schubas, where they hosted a month-long residency after releasing a video for their previous single “Carbon Copy.” They’ve earned the seal of approval from WXRT and WLUW Radio, WGN-TV, UR Chicago, American Way and the Tribune’s Red Eye edition. Spots in the audience become harder to snag as they release their follow-up, the anticipated full-length We Have Everything / We Have Nothing (available on vinyl + digital + disc May 10), a result of two years of work that leans heavily on Myers’ lengthy divorce in 2012. The group worked once again in Chicago with Ovnik at the dials while it was mastered by Grammy Award-winning engineer Doug Sax (Pink Floyd, The Rolling Stones). Upon first listen, it’s clear this is not a breakup record; rather it’s ultimately a record of hope and resolve- and the journey to arrive there. What’s also clear from the start is how far Stolen Silver has grown as a band. The album is a dense new offering of twelve songs- singles like the uplifting endurance rocker “Prefontaine,” the dramatic “Awake And Alive,” and the vulnerable harmony-laden “I Stay Lonely” flirt with radio potential while the arrangements here are rich and the songs carry an artistic depth that is uncompromised. We Have Everything / We Have Nothing represents a group that stands to build the perfect acoustic facade while expertly demolishing it, rising in it’s place a structure of challenging hooks, golden-layered harmonies, and a latticework of electric guitar atmospheres and percussive textures that still wouldn’t be out of place with where they’ve come from. It shouldn’t be long before the rest of America gets to watch this happen.
HAILING FROM ATLANTA, GA, GARAGE ROCKER ROD HAMDALLAH HAS BEEN TEARING UP THE SOUTHEAST MUSIC SCENE SINCE BEFORE HE WAS OLD ENOUGH TO HAVE HIS FIRST DRINK.
BY AGE 16, ROD WAS SOAKING UP GARAGE ROCK AND SOUTHERN DELTA BLUES AND MASTERING IT TECHNICALLY AT A RELENTLESS PACE.
SUBSEQUENTLY INFLUENCED BY EARLY SOUL AS WELL, HAMDALLAH TOOK HIS MUSIC TO YET ANOTHER LEVEL; AND BY AGE 17, HE WAS SHARING THE STAGE WITH INFLUENCES SUCH AS BLUES PRODIGY SEAN COSTELLO, JACK WHITEMENTOR DEXTER ROMWEBER AND MANY, MANY MORE.
THE ELEMENTS IN ROD’S ORIGINAL MUSICAL ARE ROOTED IN BLUES, GARAGE AND EARLY SOUL. DARK STORYTELLING AND AMERICAN ROOTS MUSIC PLAY A BIG PART IN HIS SONGWRITING AS WELL. HE CREATES A SOUND THAT CAN BE LIKENED TO SUCH ARTISTS AS FLAT DUO JETS, CAPTAIN BEEFHEART AND THE BLACK KEYS.
THINK ABOUT IT, HAMDALLAH’S DEBUT EP, WAS RELEASED MAY 1ST, 2014. IT IS A WAILING GARAGE-ROCK STOMPER WITH BLUESY, LO-FI VOCALS ALL THROUGHOUT ITS FIVE TRACKS. THE SINGLE “THINK ABOUT IT” WILL KEEP YOUR HEAD BOBBING WITH ITS DIRTY GUITAR AND PUNK ROCK ATTITUDE, ALL WHILE HIS SOULFUL VOCALS THREAD THROUGHOUT.
“CARRY YOU HOME” FEATURES COLONEL J.D. WILKES, OF THE LEGENDARY SHACK SHAKERS, A BAND ROD HAS TOURED WITH WORLDWIDE. WILKES ADDS BOTH BANJO AND AN ALMOST-DREAMY, WURLITZER PIANO TO THIS BLUESY WESTERN TUNE.
CRAFTING A SOUND FROM PERSONAL EXPERIENCE, DYNAMIC VARIATION AND MELODIC VOCALS, ROD HAMDALLAH STANDS POISED TO TAKE THIS SHOW ON THE ROAD… AND AROUND THE WORLD! BECAUSE, FOR ROD, HUNGER IS HIS MAIN HALLMARK. IT IS AN UNDENIABLE QUALITY IN HIS SOUL.
“Bonehart Flannigan. There may be no more fitting pseudonym in all the singer-songwriter pen names I’ve heard. First, it sounds a little silly rolling off the tongue, makes you giddy in some way. Same goes for a Bonehart Flannigan performance. While the songs may hurl themselves at heartbreak, murder and destitution, their exuberance and charm matches that of their composer. But back to the name: Bonehart Flannigan. There’s something boisterous about it. What sort of person has that name? Well, it’s whatever piece of Jon Dell writes the rip roaring folk that takes the stage with him at a Bonehart show. Whether it’s a motormouth homage to Dharma, the immortalized van of his other band Universe Contest or the wicked-sharp murder ballad “Mean Blade of Grass,” Bonehart music wears most of its emotions and intentions right there on its happy, dirty sleeve. Whatever the message may be, it’s absolutely exuded by a country rock voice and a speeding acoustic guitar. Life sucks, life is great. Bottoms up!”
A founding member of The .357 String Band and current member of the Goddamn Gallows, Jayke Orvis is ahead of his time even though he plays timeless music. The songs on his solo effort “It’s All Been Said” are articles of the heart, exposing Orvis as a fragile, troubled soul. His depictions of love are raw and blue, the pages of his life littered throughout this album.
“Madison, Wisconsin’s own. I love their Rock & Roll Oi! sound and wish more bands played around with that sound. They at time sound like the Bruisers which is a good thing. The song Ain’t Gonna Win has the intro from The Simpsons which still makes me laugh. The songs are written well and the lyrics are good and angry. My problem with the record is the drumming… just seems off to me and that is what is keeping this album from having a higher rating. Everything else is really good and near a classic.These songs are so great live this band goes out and kills it on every live show. Please do yourself a favor and go check out this band live. Like I said before there are some problems with the drum sound. With that said, it is still a album you should have in your collection. Their cover of Rose Tattoo’s Nice Boys is a fucking hammer. And they easly have one of the best Skrewdriver covers ever! Songs like For All I Care Skinhead Rock & Roll, Trudge onwards, and Wisconsin Hooligans are some of the best ever written. The album is filled with great songs and the guitar sound is great.” – Oi! Of America
ANDY D
Andy D fancies himself the anachronistic love child of Punky Brewster and Lee Van Cleef – the perfect amalgam of a fictional rogue and a real-life badass. He plays music this like he lives life and it sounds like Andrew WK meets Grand Master Melle Mel or Like Prince if he couldn’t sing that well and if he weren’t a hyper-talented multi-instrumentalist. This is what his music is all about: part epicurean hip-hop-dance songs and part sincere dance rock songs, being eclectic and catchy is the only goal.
Chicago’s HIDE is a new project from visual artist Heather Gabel on vocals and multi-instrumentalist Seth Sher (Ga’an, Psychic Steel, Zath, Oakeater) on pretty much everything else (and some vocals). They’ve played with Be Forest and Alkaline Trio among others and have continued to stir up shit around town with their dark, minimal mix of electronic, goth and industrial music.
Hunterchild’s 2014 self-titled debut album is an emotionally direct, darkly sexual mix of R&B-infused electronic pop. Featuring production from Kevin Ratterman (My Morning Jacket, Wax Fang) and showcasing lead singer Luke Aaron Jones’ throaty, sanguine vocals and keyboardist/percussionist Marty Sprowles’ sparse, moody arrangements, the album is an immediately arresting, unforgettable collection of songs. Born out of the 2012 breakup of the duo’s previous band, Dreamers of the Ghetto (which also left Jones divorced from Dreamers keyboardist Lauren Jones), Hunterchild became the vehicle by which Jones and Sprowles could express their anger, sadness, and aching sense of loss. As Jones sings on “So Bad,” “We all want something that we never had/We all want something that’s both good and bad/But I’ve never wanted someone so bad/As bad, as I want you.” Based on the duo’s move from Dreamers’ more buoyant, post-U2 guitar sound to the arch, internalized electronic soul that permeates all of Hunterchild’s debut, the breakup clearly opened up new creative pathways and emotional themes to explore. And while Hunterchild’s sound is rooted in ’80s electronic synth pop, there is nothing cold or removed about the album. On the contrary, Hunterchild are informed as much by Violator-era Depeche Mode as they are by Love Deluxe-era Sade. If anything, Jones, with his bourbon-soaked croon and inclination for soul-baring honesty, borders on self-immolation rather than guarded detachment. As he sings on the heart-wrenching “Secret Messages,” “I put secret little messages in my songs for you/And when I sing them my heart only feels for you.” Elsewhere, on tracks like the lust-ridden “Aching” and the epic “Time Traveling Lover,” Jones draws upon the even older, more organic ’70s soul tradition as he lifts his vocals into a whispery falsetto over Sprowles’ insistent, ringing keyboards and pulsating electronic beats. Aesthetically minimalist but emotionally generous, Hunterchild have taken their heartache and crafted a baroque, synth soul masterpiece. -Matt Collar
