What was once buried and lost has been found and reassembled. Thank the Universe for the playlist is all I’m going to say, so assembling this in the physical realm only took a few minutes.  While only twelve tracks, this one clocks in at almost 48 minutes. Assembled about three or more years ago and buried but not forgotten betwixt moves, graduate schools (with another on the horizon in about a year or so), and at least one or two computer purchases and moves. It’s a miracle this still exists. Given my erratic schedule, I want to streamline these occasional, but hopefully more regular, shows better than previously to get out all of this wonderful music that has been piling up. To facilitate that, for the moment, I will be creating each one without a voice over track from yours truly. Instead, You’ll get the mix as a regular podcast as well as the usual capsule reviews of each artist and any other details that might be pertinent, like a theme or a mood. This time, I don’t believe either of those are present.

Tom Block, City of Zen.  Tom Block is a multi-media artist based in Germany. This is a rereleased, repolished, revisit of his first album of 2012. It’s a alt-pop 60s inspired affair and quite good as I remember it enough to ask him to send me a few tracks for you all to hear. It’s been a long while and he’s recorded new music since so it would behoove you to get yourself over to his page and check out what else he’s been working on, musically and artistically.

Midnight Syndicate, Greensleeves. Midnight Syndicate, as a creative force, have been constructing worlds within worlds for more than a decade at least. When I first heard above this outfit, I was intrigued about the whole concept of soundtracks existing independent of any movies (though they have recorded a soundtrack for at least one movie and now a game!). For those of you trepidatious about the chosen themes, the music is more thriller and cerebrally intriguing that they are horror. This is their first outing in a cross genre setting combining thrilling ghosts and holiday music.

Fall of Man, Breathe. Fall of Man are a five-piece based out of Los Angeles. How to describe them adequately? They are a heavy-hitting melodic metal female-fronted wall of sound. Unusual in their no-holds barred approach, I particularly appreciate what has become cliché to some in these parts: They don’t sound generically mainstream radio ready. But they do sound more than ready for the radio when radio grows up and matures enough to handle the responsibility.

Gabrielle Roth and the Mirrors, Deep Down. I am not certain who originally sent me this. It could have been anyone honestly, but it may have been her son. I just learned the Gabrielle Roth left the planet about 9 years ago and her son organizes her remaining spiritual and yoga work at at least one yoga and spiritual center (https://www.5rhythms.com/) that promotes her workout and yoga technique. The music you are listening to hints at tribal rhythms as well some evolutionary changes and growth. We would all do well to listen and pay attention to her music more to see where it takes us.

Matrix of Domination, One Shot (Rocked). It is indeed rare to find music that seems to burst at its seams because it’s too larger than life to be contained by any description or genre. In this case, Matrix of Domination is comprised of two sisters who have indeed studied and explored an amalgamation of genres and are ready to explode the confines of whatever we use to define or explain music at any point in time. While there are only just a few different mixes of this song, I have a feeling that this band is just waiting to shock and surprise its audience any minute.

Pilgrim Speakeasy, Antidote. Is it psychedelic Funk? It is but it’s a mash-up of folk and power-pop sped through a blender and poured out… slowwwwwwwly. Reading their bio, it’s entirely possible that I have played some interesting tunes from their fertile imaginations in the distant past of the Fevered Brain of RadioMike. I’m grateful they are still blending it all into some indescribable gooey delight.

Vanessa Moses, Bad Dreams. Listening to this, I a struck by the disparate but unified elements of folk, power-pop, and some ethereal magic within Vanessa’s voice. What can I say? I have a weakness for female vocals and vocalists. This track is just a lot of fun, in spite of the solemn title. If you do a little digging for her other musical efforts, you’ll find that she has lived in a few places, has released a New Wave Jazz record, and has even written an award-winning country song for an Australian artist a few years ago. The whole of her efforts are enough to tickle anyone’s fancy.  

Michael Lyon, Clear Blue Sky. It’s been a while since I have heard any of Lyon’s other tracks. However listening to this it seems to be reminiscent of children’s songs that other artists have sent my way on occasion. His bio indicates that he has been immersed in music his entire life, beginning from a childhood where his parents surrounded him with music. This wonderful track is a singalong, to my ears, without a crowd to be encouraged. I read somewhere that he is also a teacher, though it wouldn’t surprise me that he is a music teacher. It also wouldn’t shock me to learn that he is an elementary school teacher employing music in his instruction in similar ways that I desire to utilize drumming in a community school setting somewhere.

Tablefox, Nothing Ever Changes. Tablefox, like many other bands that capture my heart and mind, have a way of twisting my little finger around a tuneful display of power pop and never letting go. New Zealand indie music is notorious for such gratuitous displays of unbridled talent. The country has done it before with several bands and so have their neighbor’s Australian artists.  Nothing Ever Changes sounds like a classic with its first note blaring out of the speakers. This track is from 2017, but they are still around and there are plenty more to discover and fall in love with when you venture over to their Bandcamp.

Deni Bonet, Raise the Roof. What is there to say about Deni that I haven’t and anyone else hasn’t already said before? She’s played with practically everyone, she is a monster on the violin, and her songs rock. And this one definitely proves it. She has been doing a lot of virtual house shows lately so you should probably visit her site and sign up for her newsletter if you are game. There are plenty of videos there, a Wikipedia link with her vast discography (and probably her guest appearances, as well), and her current CDs. While this track is an instrumental, she can sing as well as she can play, probably better than many of us can walk and chew gum simultaneously. Ohh, and check out those photos with celebrities!

Disconnected Genius, One Fine Day. Their bio is mysteriously lean, but their music is not. True to my word on my unhesitating praise for music Down Under, here is another one that deserves praise. The wall of sound is always delightful and the lyrics ponder worlds of thought and often compel singing, but that’s what keeps me from going sane and dealing with the twits outside. The album this track is from is called Nirvikalpa Meow. According to the album, Nirvikalpa is a Sanskrit word that refers to a state of enlightenment that is formless and complete. I’ll leave it to you to decide if the album is that perfect after you listen to it. I will say, it’s pretty damn listenable, though.

FAË, When I was Young. Unfortunately for someone so wonderful and talented that I remember getting excited about when her music was submitted to Radio Casbah once upon a time, I can only find what I have linked to. The email inbox and her submitted files reveal nothing, alas. There is plenty to find if you are looking for faerie folk, of which FAË may be a denizen of. In the meantime, we’ll just have to content ourselves with such a beautiful voice carrying us away on wings of fanciful dreams when she deigns to appear again and captivate our ears. So… after a fevered search, I finally struck gold, just for y’all, but it wasn’t easy (and replaced the apple link above, with a Soundcloud). You’re welcome: https://linktr.ee/iiamfae

The Fevered Brain, 3 March 2021

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