Let’s start with some outstanding new EPs. Guilty Party is the new project of Angelo Celli (Bracket) and it has his signature fuzzy power riffs and melodic Superdrag-ish punk pop. “Baby Bird” is a solid highlight. Movie Movie is an NYC-based band that cleanly combines power pop, glam, and 1980s rock influences. “Big City Tonight” is a fast-paced rocker, but all these tracks are distinct and worth exploring. Kai Danzberg, the German pop maestro has an acoustic unplugged session with some of his favorite songs. Australian Davey Lane (You Am I) started a new project with bass player Luke Thomas and drummer Brett Wolfenden called The Pictures. Its rich deep rock sound is pretty refreshing, and finally veteran popster Martin Newell returns with a new EP and an album on the way, as The Cleaners From Venus, he explores London from the local perspective both in lo-fi and melodic as ever.
Tag: Cleaners From Venus
Elvyn and Cleaners From Venus
Elvyn “Valley Of The Kilowatt Hour”
Elvyn is another artist we haven’t heard from in several years. This Toronto band still knows how to expertly craft a solid melody with catchy hooks as evidenced by the opener “Ellie.” Lead vocalist/lead guitarist Ryan Beerman is in fine form as on “Here We Surrender” is part Alan Parson Project and part Fastball. “Landslide Cities” has an infectious beat with great call-and-response harmonies in the chorus.
And as soft as much of the melodies are, it still can rock with the intensity as “AM” is chock full of vibrant guitar riffs. Other highlights include the Beatlesque sweetness on “True Luv Can’t Hide” and the Everly Brothers styled ballad “Robins Song.” Overall, each song is a very soothing listen (with just enough riff accents) and highlights the bands wistful approach. Highly Recommended.
Amazon | CD Baby
Cleaners From Venus “Rose of the Lanes”
Martin Newell (aka Cleaners From Venus) is still going strong, and for the Anglophile there are few musicians who can compare. Newell is the self described “poet laureate of late summer melancholy,” and the songs are all simply produced using a Tascam DP-006 Pocketstudio. But even stripped down Newell is joy to hear as he makes his way through these 15 tracks.
The high addictive jangle of “Rose of The Lanes” is a song that lyrically references the BBC’s Doctor Who. “Little French Blue” is a fuzzed-up gem and the acoustic melody of “Isn’t She The Biz” are what you listen to Newell for. A series of songs look loving back to Newell’s youth with “Third Summer Of Love” and “Liverpool Judy.” The “nite-club” styling of “Tatterenalion” is another charmer. He runs out of steam a little towards the end, with the exception of the Davies-like “Denmark Street,” but this is still a highly recommended collection of tunes.
Amazon
The Power Popaholic Interview: Martin Newell
Martin Newell is a poet, author, musician, gardener and general troublemaker. As the main singer/songwriter from the Cleaners From Venus, he self-released his albums on cassette and did his best to avoid the music industry while building a fan base, becoming an inspiration for many DIY musicians. Martin talks about some advice he got starting out, meeting and working with Andy Partridge (XTC) and his memories of the 1960′s.
I have such a good time chatting with Martin, I pull a Zelig and my own voice starts to unconsciously imitate his accent! Martin also has been adding funny promotional videos for his album “Return To Bohemia” called Mule TV. It’s obviously a Monty Python inspired video series with looney interviews with a tune thrown in.
Episode 1 | Episode 2 | Episode 3 | Episode 4 | Episode 5 | Episode 6
The Cleaners From Venus “Return To Bohemia”
Martin Newell is probably the most Anglophilic singer songwriter I’ve ever heard. As the driving force behind cult indie rockers Cleaners from Venus, he produced a new album hot after the new re-mastered box sets of the Cleaners DIY years. Newell is at a stage in life where you tend to look back, and Return to Bohemia is like an old friend spinning stories at the pub.
“Cling to Me” is a classic Cleaners type of lo-fi tune, with a fuzzy guitar lead, overdubbed jangle and drum machine with Newell echoing lead. “He’s Going Out With Marilyn” is another jangle gem about teen jealousy. The mood shifts dramatically with “The Days of May,” a somber acoustic song about the passage of time. Newell’s songwriting is as sharp as ever, “The Royal Bank of Love” is a fantastic song, but really needs the lush detailed production instead of the sparse instrumentation. It works better on “Mrs Gale and Her New Lover,” and the free association fun of the title track. “King of The Sixties” is another catchy gem along with the echoing “I Wanna Stay In.” Fans of the Cleaners will love this collection although it may take a few plays for the uninitiated to fall in line. A treasure.