musomusofm on the radar playlist #50 - Giuseppe Paradiso & Meridian 71, Nick Costa, Isolated Corners and more....
Well folks, it has finally happened, we have reach a landmark with musomuso.com, today heralds the 50th playlist that we have featured on the site. Granted, I’ve been doing playlists for some time now but I’ve never really tracked them through so I lose count as to the actual number that I’m up to.
With 50 playlists under our belts, we expect sponsors to come flocking in with ludicrous offers or equipment, music and maybe even cold hard cash but if not, you know what? we don’t care, we LOVE what we do here at musomuso and hope that you (the listeners) enjoy it too.
Since the tail end of 2020 when we started to publish these playlists, we have helped exactly 450 acts to get their music out to a wider audience and hopefully allowed them to open more doors as a result. It really is that simple, we publish the playlists, you listen to the music on them, simple!
So, what have we in store for #50? Are there any special guests? high profile acts? in a word….no! BUT, you will find another 9 stunningly talented acts who thoroughly deserve to be here.
As usual, underneath the embedded playlist, you’ll find the bios and social links for all of our featured acts, have a dig, see what you can find and if you like what you hear, give them a like, drop them a line and engage with them, you will never know the feeling a band or artist feels when someone does just that, maybe a simple note of encouragement or a thank you for putting out such a brilliant piece of music, anything will go a very long way!
Anyway, I’m getting all emotional now, let’s move on.
See you on the other side.
Giuseppe Paradiso & Meridian 71
Meridian 71 is a cross-cultural music project created and led by Giuseppe Paradiso since 2012. The project name comes from Boston’s longitude: the 71st meridian that passes precisely through the eastern part of the city. ‘Parallel Dimensions’ (Ubuntu Music, dropped on April 15 2022) the band’s third album, features original compositions by Giuseppe and performances by an eclectic and multicultural ensemble of well-established Boston-based musicians.
“Boston is the location where I met musicians from different parts of the globe. We are deeply connected and spoke the common language of music together”, reflects Paradiso. “It felt like I had known for a long time that at some point in my life I would have met musicians just like them, way before moving across the Atlantic in 2008. Meridian 71 became the creative laboratory and space to develop this music.”
Meridian 71 is more than a conceptual band; it’s a dynamic and ever-changing musical project with a revolving lineup and a driving vision to use music and sound to inspire, bridge cultures and create links within different traditions.
Blending music genres that range from jazz and improvised music to Mediterranean and West African styles, Parallel Dimensions features Giuseppe on drums, percussion, electronics & vocals; Mark Zaleski on alto & soprano sax/clarinet; Utar Artun on piano & keys; Phil Sargent on electric guitar; James Hazlewood-Dale on upright, electric and fretless bass; and Malick Ngom on West African sabar drums, percussion and vocals.
Although born of a pandemic ‘Parallel Dimensions’ offers the feeling of hope and optimism that fills the human spirit. It’s a product of multiculturalism filtered through life in one of the oldest cities in America during a society altering pandemic that can be the salve that soothes the weary soul. A fusion of music, to be sure, but also a fusion of something intangible that makes us want to keep creating together in these ‘interesting times’.
Socials
Nick Costa
Genre-crossing songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Nick Costa’s Sunbleach is his finest work yet—inspired by the warmth and ease of an L.A. summer, it is a tastefully nostalgic, sonically varied yet cohesive album that effortlessly balances fun with substance.
But who is Nick Costa, allow me to bring you up to date…..
Over the past 15 years, Nick Costa has been a highly active member of the Minneapolis music scene. Split between his previous projects, The Person & The People, Me As A Pilot, and his solo career, Nick has 7 full-length records, 3 EPs, and one moody blink-182 cover album behind him—and he shows no signs of slowing down.
Sunbleach (released on March 25) is a tastefully nostalgic, sonically varied yet cohesive album that effortlessly balances fun and substance and invites comparison to the Fruit Bats, Tame Impala, and The Strokes, among others.
Sunbleach deftly balances the pain and joy of being alive while weaving through the relatable themes of love, death, disappointment, and hope all with evocative storytelling and meaningful lyrics balanced with unforgettable melodies and lush harmonies.
Self-produced, performed, and recorded in Los Angeles and mixed and mastered by August Ogren (Tame Impala, Ondara, Mark Mallman, Bad Bad Hats), Sunbleach is Nick's third studio album of original work, coming after his sophomore release Tell My Mother I Love Her and his solo debut, Devastator.
With a playful complexity aspiring to Paul and Linda McCartney’s RAM, Sunbleach dances around a number of genres and implies a wealth of musical influences without taking itself too seriously. “Runnin’ From The Devil”’s signature twang and driving pace hearken back to Spaghetti Westerns and “Go Home”’s sweet harmonies and honest lyrics would sound natural on an Edward Sharpe record, while “Supermoon”’s smooth, haunting melody and swelling chorus are a nod to Kacey Musgraves’ Golden Hour.
Sunbleach's first single, "Do Better, Man!" was released on February 25th. A turn for the brighter in style and substance, "Do Better, Man!" has a pop sensibility without losing Nick's signature subtle songwriting sophistication. The second single, "Go Home" was released at the same time as Sunbleach.
Nick’s music would appeal to fans of Fruit Bats, Andy Shauf, Japanese Breakfast, RAM-era Paul McCartney, Christian Lee Hutson, Richard Edwards, Tame Impala, The Strokes & Haim and countless others. Why not dip your toes in, stream his latest album and if you like, go back and stream his earlier work, you mihght just find your next favourite artist!
Socials
Isolated Corners
When I said that there were no special guests or high profile acts, I meant proper A-List bands and artists, if you are referring to local legends then yes, there. is one and he is called Edward Tucker but is better known on the local music circuit as Isolated Corners
If you’re a fan of QOTSA, IDLES and Radiohead, you’re gonna LOVE his ‘all killer, no filler’ 6 track EP ‘Sleeper’ which hit the shelves oOnce I figured out how to get my guitar on the computer there was no stopping me. Born out of my early lacklustre bedroom studio;I started Isolated Corners in 2017 after making a small ambient EP focusing on eerier and unsettling vibes and sounds. Along the way my production and writing style has grown into an aggressive Post-rock / post-punk kind of sound that you'll hear throughout the EP which goes from atmospheric, bitter-sweet acoustic to floor shaking, distorted heavy and lots of interesting places in-between.
Asked about how the project started, Ed replied, “Once I figured out how to get my guitar on the computer there was no stopping me. Born out of my early lacklustre bedroom studio; I started Isolated Corners in 2017 after making a small ambient EP focusing on more eerie and unsettling vibes and sounds. Along the way my production and writing style has grown into an aggressive Post-rock / post-punk kind of sound that you'll hear throughout the new EP.
Ed is no stranger to the music scene, he usually plays bass in an alt rock trio called Big Lava.
He added, “This will be the first solo release I will be playing some live shows along side. It will be me and an acoustic guitar playing acoustic versions of the music you hear online. I've played a few Isolated Corners shows like this and I can confirm, translating a 4 piece band into me and an acoustic guitar is very hard!”
With his new found style and approach to writing and recording music, Ed has managed to move out of his bedroom and into his spare room, asked about how his approach to the EP differed from previous recordings, he said, “Up to the point of my last EP, I hadn't written/produced anything with an aggressive energy and I was absolutely dying to after listening to some incredible newer bands over the last few years like Black midi, Black Country, New road and Phoxjaw; who all have they're own brilliant energetic unique spin. I was in a bit of a creative rut so I tried a new writing method. Jamming over a drum loop that stood out to me. I turned up the drive, started yelling and it launched me right back into the creative swing of things.”
If you’re in the Exeter/South Devon area, keep an eye out for future Isolated Corners and Big lava shows, they are quite simply, not to be missed!
Socials
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…..