It’s Monday, I know…..where does the time go? I’m hoping that the majority of you have had a couple of days to chill and recharge your batteries ahead of another hectic week taking over again!
I was cleaning my youngest son’s computer on Friday night about 30 mins before I did an interview with the legend that is Kathy Sledge from hit disco band Sister Sledge (We Are Family etc…) so I wanted to be on good form for her….was I? Well, aside form hardly being able to see or talk without sounding like the bloke from the advert for ‘Tunes’ in the 80’s, I was on top form! The interview went great but as soon as it was over, I took some tablets and retired for the rest of the weekend and have only really started to feel any better later on Sunday afternoon, just in time for work again on Monday morning!
Anyway, enough of me moaning on about my common cold and the fact that it nearly got the better of me over the weekend and onto a KILLER playlist which really does need to be celebrated.
This playlist has another 9 tracks from some of the world’s finest unsigned acts and again, I have trawled the globe to bring you only the finest there is to offer.
Please pay particular attention to Lou Hill (bio below), the track I chose from his debut album is an absolute smasher if you like your poetry and I for one will be keeping a very close eye on this phenomenal artist.
As usual, the bios and social links for our featured acts are below, go check them out and learn a bit more about them if you have time. In the meantime, buckle up and get ready for the new playlist.
See you on the other side.
Marcus Herne
“Why does the world need a Piano Day? For many reasons. But mostly, because it doesn’t hurt to celebrate the piano and everything around it: performers, composers, piano builders, tuners, movers and most important, the listener.” – Nils Frahm
Piano Day, an annual worldwide event founded by a group of likeminded people, takes place on the 88th day of the year – in 2022 it’s the 29th March – because of the number of keys on the instrument being celebrated.
Last year, composer and visual artist Marcus Herne made his first contribution to the day with the release of his track ’88’, a many layered ambient drone that builds and cascades, using only the piano as a sound source. It was a very spontaneous decision to write the piece, which resulted in Herne only having a day to compose, mix and master the track before its release.
This year Herne wanted to release another piece using solely the piano as the primary sound source. 88.II builds upon similar techniques used in the prior release, but with the addition and stronger reliance on distortion and compression, resulting in this years track having a far heavier, and more aggressive sound.
Many of these compositional and production techniques are ones that can be heard throughout Marcus Herne’s discography, and he thought it was the best way in which to capture and present the power and beauty of the piano. “The piano is such a powerful and diverse sound source, it’s sonic breadth provides endless possibilities, and I am always surprised where I end up.”
The artwork and design for 88.II was also created by Marcus Herne, with photography by Matt Wash. 88.II was released on all digital platforms on March 29, 2022.
Marcus Herne’s next release will be ‘Forms Redux’, on April 22, 2022.
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Lucifers Beard
Chris Barnes aka Lucifers Beard is a one man band who writes and records all of his music at his home studio. He counts guitar based bands as influences to his sound, acts including The Beatles, Mars Volta and Queens Of the Stone Age made the shortlist but I guess there are other bubbling away in the background.
Chris built his own recording studio over the last few years with money that he had saved for a new kitchen floor (he admitted that his (very understanding) girlfriend wasn't as excited as he was about it!) He worked closely with Ed Ripley (NOFX/Frank Turner/Spice Girls) who also mastered 'Shake on The Floor' for him.
His latest track ‘Shake On The Floor’ focuses on themes of control and/ or lack of control. "Explain on the phone, how you lost your throne, share your soggy cone..."
Whilst recording the track, Chris caught his neighbour staring at him whilst he was recording vocals whilst he was stood in the garden, at this point he didn't know anything about Chris’s musical background and looked somewhat shocked to see and hear him screaming along to nothing (as he was wearing headphones). Either that or he doesn’t like the song!
‘Shake on the Floor’ is a damned fine slice of alt-rock that deserves your attention, even if you think about the neighbour staring at him whilst the screaming vocals kick in!
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Lou Hill
‘Dogends’ is the new project from Lou Hill and Gareth Jones (aka Polka Dot Man).
‘Dogends’ are the the things left unfinished, smouldering in the ashtray. The bit at the end that isn’t worth a drag. But there’s value in those things. More than you know.
‘Dogends’ is a collaboration between two old friends. Friends from way back when. One catching the other’s words and painting them into a picture. A sonic backdrop that breathes a different kind of life into them. Stalks them. Haunts them.
Words filled with memories and faded snapshots that still feel vivid enough to taste. The water rings on the table top. Words so specific to a place that they should come with a map but, once uprooted, could have come from any place, any street corner, any shop queue, any bar, or any dawn-lit bedroom.
There’s history in those ‘Dogends’ you were about to chuck away. A richness you were once quick to dismiss. Those stories have the whole scope and whirlwind of life in them, still smouldering away in the ashtray.
‘Dogends’ is the place you’ll never truly leave because it’s place that will always be a part of you.
“A smouldering fusion of poetry and lo-fi soundtracks which, if you close your eyes, take you away with urban lyricism and stark honesty - We love it, you will too, prioritise this and it will pay dividends” - musomuso.com
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Bota Butterfly
Masterfully towing the line between Dream Pop and Electronica, Bota Butterfly's latest offering ‘Drop’ has a distinct, chilled R&B influence in an ethereal sonic plain, whilst being an undeniable earworm.
Fusing lo-fi sounds and crystal-clear production, Bota’s sensational vocals smoothly wrap around intoxicating melodies, cementing her place as a songstress with infinite potential. Alongside the track is a music video with stunning Ancient Egypt-inspired visuals, directed by Eliska Sky.
Talking about the new track, Bota Butterfly shares: “Drop is about an intoxicating and ephemeral relationship. The song is about dating a ‘player’ and enjoying the process of a ‘game’. The song has started with a simple melody that you hear in the intro. I played it on piano and then Tylr Rydr (producer) sampled it and added a really cool effect of an ‘old record’ on top of it. In the music video we used a snake as a reference to poison, toxicity and charmer.”
Bota Butterfly is a London based songwriter and recording artist with a focus on creating atmospheric and dreamy music that blurs the lines between dream-pop and modern R&B. Bota is a professionally trained pianist, with a background in classical music.
In 2021, Bota got the world to become familiar with her unique artistry and vision after debuting with singles ‘On Your Mind’ and ‘Somebody Else’. Bota Butterfly's music matches the mesmerising and ethereal world of her character, which has a magical, fairy-like sheen as well. Bota is not just a singer: she is a true artist and a distinctive personality who creates a true universe around herself, populated with stunning colours, melodies, and so much passion and dreaminess.
All of Bota’s new tracks (including Drop) have been produced and co-written with Tylr Ryrd (Ashnikko, Girli, Cassyette, Leftwing:Kody). The music video was directed by award-winning art director Eliska Sky (seen on Vogue, Elle, Dazed, Hunger to name a few). Eliska directed Bota’s first two music videos too, and ‘Drop’ is their third collaboration. Together they work on the creative concepts, bringing an immersive aesthetic to the music videos and visuals.
As it’s SO good, here’s the video that accompanies the track;
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Spotify
Soundcloud
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SO there you have it folks, another 9 awesome tracks for you to get your ears around. If you liked any of them, please hit them up on the socials and tell them, mention that you heard them on the musomusofm on the radar playlist and they might even buy me a cookie if our paths ever cross!
Please take a moment to spread the word on social media, it’s on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, just head to musomusouk on either platform and give it a LIKE, SHARE, THUMBS UP or whatever you can!
Until next time…..