Rambling Man's Reviews

                                                                         Miss Velvet and The Blue Wolf  are a Funk/soul combo that hails from New York. They are led by the charismatic vocals of Miss Velvet, who is joined by Producer  Constance Hauman on Keyboards, Nick Carbone on Drums,  Henry Ott on Guitars, Trevor Neuman on Trumpet, and Trombonists Dan Levine and TJ Robinson. The bland is an eclectic variation of rock, soul, jazz, and funk that counts 70's funk pioneers  Parliament/ Funkadelic , as influencers, whom they have spent the past two years touring with.  The band recently released " Feed The Wolf, A follow-up to the debut album " Bad Get Some" . An album that notably features  George Clinton  of the aforementioned funksters. This release was recorded in ...

Words Were Written by Anselm Anderson for Rambling Man's Reviews Slant Six  are a five- piece from Edmonton founded in 2015. The band mix old-school southern rock with blues to create hard hitting music that focuses on lyrics such as  mental health. The band were named after an old car engine with the band riding high following the release of their EP " Amnesia". The self- titled single from that album is about losing your memory when you only know who you are. The track is a dark journey through realisation with many influences of differing styles. The song opens up with an intense passage that builds gradually towards its opening like a person scrambling to find themselves. Lead Singer Sascha Hubert enters the fray with his gravitione vocals , as each verse is expressed through reflection. The chugging guitar lines build through intensity to a standpoint, as the tone changes in the bridge. The clever use of the guitar pedals add depth to what Hubert is expressing...

Words were written by Anselm Anderson for Rambling Man's Reviews Jimmy Lee Morris is a British Singer/songwriter I have had the pleasure of writing a review for before, as a publisher for The Old School Projec t Morris is originally from East Sussex but now resides in Devon. He has been entertaining audiences over the past 30 plus years at various Folk clubs and festivals across Europe and the UK. Morris had previously released “Last Of The Tall Ships” last year, and now returns with his latest album “ Run To The Sun”, an album full of heartfelt lyrics and feelgood tunes that this writer comes to expect from previous releases. Morris blends pop, hard rock, blues and folk to create ten telling tracks full of vigour and energy. I will be exploring the new release further in this review, which begins with the upbeat Take that Away. The album opens with a blues- fused groove fest that combines the colourful tones of keyboard with the ever-ascending guitar notes that reverber...

Words were written by Anselm Anderson for Rambling Man's Reviews Allan James  is a much-accomplished singer-songwriter, based in Northern Virginia, USA James is a self-taught musician, who began playing guitar and singing songs aged 8 and by the time he reached his early teens, James had started to record and perform his original music for school, dances, and charities. James returned to the US following a successful stint as host of his own guitar TV show in Iceland, whilst living over there. Allan James achieved critical acclaim following the release of his debut single on local radio stations, as well as releasing  6 albums to date. James has always been at the forefront of utilizing technologies and using the internet to build a fanbase.  He now returns with " Our Dreams", the latest single off his forthcoming new album. A beautifully structured track that captures the soul with its succinct guitar play and poetic lyrics. The track conjures feelings of serenity...

Words Written by Anselm Anderson  Rofo Audio is a three-piece power rock trio from Royersford, PA, which is where the band's name is derived from. The band has been gaining exposure across the tri-states, promoting their new album. The trio has featured regularly in European and US Radio, as well as publications. Their new album In the Between is a follow-up to their successful second album Reach ( 2016) They now release their latest single " Right Through Me", a tracking characteristic of power rock music full of guitar-orientated riffs and huge pop choruses. The song begins with an uptempo surge of one of those aforementioned riffs that go along like a glass of lemonade on a hot summer afternoon. The subtle textures create this vibe throughout with basslines that tumble along to every chord struck. Lead singer Raymond Short's saccharine vocals are joyous and catchy, as the trio plays simple harmonies that are easy on the ear. The nice guitar solo in the mid-e...

Words By Anselm Anderson for Rambling Man's Reviews Americana star JT Larsen returns with his latest single " Old Beat Down Train" . This is a star that Rambling Man's Reviews reviewed previously last month. Larsen is an Americana/country singer from Indianapolis, USA; who plays simple country music with nuances of Americana. "Old Beat Down Train " is another example of Larsen's penchant for writing songs that leave the listener feeling like they are on this journey too. I feel the lyrics this may be about Larsen's struggles of leaving loved ones behind to pursue his dreams of becoming a musician. The tonality and textures of this track convey a sense of isolation and anticipation, as Larsen boards the metaphorical train. The opening passage creates this feeling with the steel lap guitar, accompanied by a strong syncopated strumming pattern. Larsen's vocals are warm and enticing, whilst the lyrics are relatable. The mid-tempo builds towards...

Words were written by Anselm Anderson The Kut  are a Punk Rock act formed by the alter ego of  Multi-instrumentalist solo artist  Princess Maha  with   Diana Bartmann  (  Drums) and Bassist Stella Vie. The trio has been creating a buzz with several appearances at major festivals and touring regularly, which includes  Download  and  Camden Rock s that has resulted in them gaining major exposure in national newspapers and radio stations too. The Kut released debut album   Valley Of the Thorns  la st April via Cargo Records to critical acclaim, reaching number 7 on the UK Rock Charts. I had the pleasure to review the first track off that album  "  Hollywood Rock 'N' Roll " last year, which you can read at the bottom of this article. "   I Am Vain   " is the new single from it. The track starts off with the typical raunchy distorted riffs the band tends to produce. The high tempo energy of the trio's s...

Words were written by Anselm Anderson JT Larsen is an Americana singer/songwriter from Indianapolis. Larsen grew up in a house of musicians, which he began to focus on after leaving college. He soon concentrated on his own songwriting skills to formulate a catalogue of songs to perform around his local area. Larsen plays Americana with a hint of Rock and Roll, which has lead to comparisons to Country stars   Jason Isbell     and   Blitzen Trapper .   He now showcases his talents for the first time with debut single Southern Indiana Nights, a track he explains is about ; "A girl who I was dating at the time called and said she wanted to end things. I remember being obviously upset at the time so I grabbed my keys and went out for a drive to clear my head. At some point during the drive I started to think about some of the things I still do have, like some of my good friends from my childhood. When I got back home, I went back to my ...

Words Were Written by Anselm Anderson The Skys  are a highly revered rock outfit from Lithuania, who have toured extensively around the world to critical acclaim. The band has several albums to date, including Automatic Minds,  the band's latest studio release; which was produced by Grammy award-winning  Dom Morley  ( Amy Winehouse). Communication  is one of the singles from the album that features The Voice USA contestant  India Carney  on vocals. The track combusts between a multitude of harmonic lines and heavy beats that are reminiscent of the prog music  Pink Floyd and Genesis  were so fond of producing.  The opening sequence begins with an apparent transmission before breaking into the eerie vocals that repeats " We all see through cancer". The hypnotic bass lines then join in tandem to create a dreamlike atmosphere that builds through each bar until the counterpoint to male vocals enters with ...

Words were written by Anselm Anderson  Andrea Templon  is a versatile talent hailing from North Carolina. The singer has a rare ability to encompass a variety of genres into her music, including jazz, folk, blues, and Americana. This is nowhere better explored in her latest release " Dragonflies With Wings" , The singer's second album that features covers and originals with Dave Fox.  The ten song album is rich with warmth and poignancy that delivers with charm and attentiveness that is suitable for those who enjoy easy listening music. I will be giving a run through of some of the album's highlights; The album begins with  A Fine Thing , a beautifully written and enchanting track that opens with the bright sound of the piano that gives the song an intimate feel as if Templon is singing directly to the listener in a lounge somewhere. This is reflective in her introspective lyrics that evoke  a love ballad that comes to life with Templon's nourishing tone ...

 Interview conducted by Anselm Anderson for Rambling Man's Reviews Raven are the products of the NWOBHM scene from the 1980s that produced an array of bands like Girlschool ,  Motorhead ,   Def Leppar d Diamond Head  and  Alkatrazz  to name but a few. The band were formed in 1974 in Newcastle, England by the Gallagher brothers, John ( Vocals, Bass) and  Mark ( Backing Vocals, Guitars) with ex-drummer Pat Bowden. They described their music as " Athletic Rock", as they grew a reputation for donning sporting gear ( helmets, knee pads, elbow pads etc) and equipment during their live shows.  The band played hard rock with progressive tendencies. they achieved minor success in the 1980s with hits like    On and On" . The band has released over 10 albums including 1981 debut " Rock Until You Drop", 1985's " Stay Hard" and most recent release 2015's " Extermination. Yet it was these aforementioned performances that led the band to ...

                               BlackWaterGreed  is an exciting new Alternative Rock act from Lancaster, Pennsylvania in The US. The band describes their sound as " Classy Rock", which is " A marriage between the '70s and 80's classic rock". The band cite such luminaries as Grand Funk Railroad and Shinedown as influences and have already supported Kix   &  Adrenaline Mob . on tour. The band-  Tyson ( Drums), Michael Mundy ( Vocals) and  Los (Andy) Paltzer ( Guitars-  now are ready to unleash their much-anticipated debut album  Circle of Sin ,. The first single from that album " Walk Away", amassed over a million views on YouTube upon its release. This statistic comes as no surprise as the band's easy listening ballads format works comfortably for the listener. The opening sequence of " Walk Away " is a carefully plucked melody that opens the doors for...

Words are written, and published by Anselm Anderson Blind Lemon Peel  is the alter ego of the charismatic David Dot Hale from Southern California. A bluesman from a bygone era, his style of New Orleans blues, funk and Jjzz combined leads the listener to feel like they have been transported back in time to the great blues of  Howlin' Wolf and Johnny Guitar Watson . BLP has acquired some of the most sought after session musicians from Los Angeles and New York. BLP are  David Dot Hale ( vocals) Joel Diamond (keys), Bobby Hurricane Spencer (sax), Lucky Lloyd  (guitar), Ray Brundidge (bass), David Odom (drums),  Tadg Galleran (harp). Hale has been described as ", A n old black bluesman trapped in an even older white man’s body ". The energy and verve the band bring to the studio conjure images of said aforementioned stars enjoying themselves in a smoke-filled blues bar in downtown LA.  One listens and the listener feels instantly hooked to this...

Words were written by Anselm Anderson The Kut  are a Punk Rock act formed by the alter ego of  Multi-instrumentalist solo artist  Princess Maha with Diana Bartmann  ( Drums) and Bassist Stella Vie. The trio has been creating a buzz with several appearances at major festivals and touring regularly, which includes Download and Camden Rock s that has resulted in them gaining major exposure in national newspapers and radio stations too. The Kut released debut album   Valley Of the Thorns  la st April via Cargo Records to critical acclaim, reaching number 7 on the UK Rock Charts. I had the pleasure to review the first track off that album  " Hollywood Rock 'N' Roll " last year, which you can read at the bottom of this article. " I Am Vain " is the new single from it. The track starts off with the typical raunchy distorted riffs the band tends to produce. The high tempo energy of the trio's sound resonates within the ears to create a ...

Words were written by Anselm Anderson ( Rockstarpoet) Abbie and The Roses are an exciting new British band that has steadily forged a following through intimate shows and sessions on both sides of the Atlantic. The band is led by the charismatic charms of one Abbie Rose, who introduces the band's debut single " All This Time" a self- produced and self- penned single, mixed by Geoff Swan ( Liam Gallagher , Kings Of Leon ) amongst many more. The track is a self- reflection after the breakup of a toxic relationship, it has been described as "an anthem of empowerment for building strength and moving on " I feel this is testament upon first listen of this powerful track. Abbie Roses' voice is rich with warmth and raw emotion as she takes centre stage in this personal performance of moving on. Her voice grows with the music as the listener can identify with the pain she feels. The upbeats in acoustic guitar and electronic beats accentuates this sentime...

Interview conducted by Anselm Anderson As the author of Rambling Man's Reviews, I always felt it was an assumption to just write reviews from the best in unsigned music today. However, every blog and writer needs to evolve, so I'm very privileged to introduce my first interview to this ever-evolving music blog. The recipient of this award is    Dee Jazazz  a talented Jazz/blues singer-songwriter from New Zealand. Dee has previously released an EP " Moment of  Love" and is set to release her follow up " Loves Me, Loves Me Not" later this year. I was first intrigued when I listened to Dee's latest single   Lose My Number , a powerful and emotional soul song that has similarities to great singers like Janis Joplin and Ella Fitzgerald.   I spoke to Dee about her new album, life as a vocal coach, who her key influences are, what makes a good singer, and her Bachelor's degree in Contemporary Music. 1)Good morning Dee, could you introduce yoursel...

Words were written by Anselm Anderson The Michael Mills band are a Blues based unit from Huntington Beach, California that has developed a sound that combines r'n'b, soul, funk, and blues to create the ingredients for a cocktail of emotional lyrics and heartwarming music. Mills is joined in the band by some of the best musicians he could find, which include the talents of drummer Ron Ravicchio, bassist Scott Campbell and guitarist Jesse Godoy. The band describes itself as " a guitar-based band that likes to " dig in" on every song" which is a testament to the examples I'll be exploring. The quintet is currently recording a new album, which is due for release in February 2019. Meanwhile, I'll whet the appetite of any blues aficionados that may be reading this article with a review of a few tracks they have previously recorded. The idea is to introduce you ( the reader) to a new band and let you have an idea of what they are about. ...