Eventide releases new EP 'The City is Dead'

 
 SAN DIEGO, Calif., 2021-Sep-23 — /Indie Music News Network/ —

West coast independent hard-rock band Eventide has released their latest official EP, “The City is Dead.” It contains four original tracks and has been published as an independent release. Heavy-hitting, unrestrained, and blending old-school power with contemporary studio precision, “The City is Dead” introduces Eventide as one of the most professional and creative rock crews in recent memory.

San Diego's Eventide cites as main artistic influences Soundgarden, Black Sabbath, Alice In Chains and Oasis — each of which figure into their “The City Is Dead” EP in palpable measures. With plenty of Octane and a razor-sharp production value, “The City is Dead” by Eventide serves as both a return to pre-digital rock aggression and a declaration that the future has plenty of sonic fight in it yet.

Eventide describe their new EP as simply “hard melodic rock,” but there's more to it than that. Lyric themes range from eco-riot rally cries like the title track, “The City Is Dead,” to toe-tapping Brit Rock groove ballads like “Sorry,” and with the broad stylistic variety to match. Hence, fans of top-shelf rock across the spectrum will find much to appreciate in Eventide's “The City Is Dead” EP.

Asked to describe the overall theme of “The City is Dead,” themselves, Eventide writes, “Death, rebirth, love, loss, chaos, making it out on the other side.” “What I love about rock ‘n’ roll is the independent platform it gives to humankind,” writes vocalist East-Coaster Todd S. Wonkka. “Even if they’re not playing, performing, or singing it, you’re feeling it, riding the dissent into your own beautiful madness.”

Bassist and Calif. native Ian Phillip agrees. “I need music at all times. It’s my coffee and my meditation. It feeds my emotion and gets me into a frenzy of life. It is the ultimate universal language and I am amped to share it!”

Wisconsin-born drummer Mike Davis says, “It feels great when everyone in the band has a musical style and approach that seem to align so seamlessly.”

 “The City is Dead” by Eventide is available from quality digital music stores online worldwide now. Get in early, independent hard-rock music fans.

– S. McCauley
Lead Press Release Writer
www.Octiive.com  

 “The City is Dead” by Eventide —

https://open.spotify.com/album/5ZbggJxmUlDImMjEoZQNaB?si=Dtd-zqweToygDsirXSK_mg&dl_branch=1

Eventide Official Website —

www.EventideTheBand.com

Eventide Official Instagram —

www.instagram.com/EventideTheBand

Art-pop indie artist Phosphoro drops EP album 'This Infinite Line'

 

The songwriter and producer of art-pop music known as Phosphoro has released his latest official EP album, “This Infinite Line.” It contains five original Phosphoro tracks for an approximate total listening time of 20 mins. It has been proudly published as an independent release without the involvement of the corporate music industry on the Cognibrew Records record label. Uniquely melodic, undeniably fun, and distinguished by refreshingly unusual instrumentation, “This Infinite Line” introduces Phosphoro as one of the most intriguing artists in recent memory.

Tucson, Arizona's Phosphoro [often stylized 'phosphoro'] takes his name from the Spanish word for a match, 'fosforo,' for his fiery red hair. He cites as main artistic influences David Bowie, Portugal. The Man, Hozier, and Dave Matthews, as well as saxophone greats such as Cannonball Adderley and Charlie Parker. These are joined in his stable by a melange of rock names like Bob Dylan, Michael Jackson, and Fleetwood Mac. The result is as uncommon as one might imagine and as satisfying as a fan can hope for.

The album art for “This Infinite Line” shows Phosphoro on a ladder in his underwear with a mason's level, pointing bravely yonder like a great explorer of yore. Sonically speaking, this is apt. His pairing of sax and Rhodes piano festooned with his own unassuming indie-rock vocal style definitely explores new territories. Fans of clever lyrics will find much on the bone to gnaw, also.

Asked to describe the overall theme of “This Infinite Line,” Phosphoro writes:

“My message is one of hope, persistence, and patient endurance. Questions and fear have been pushed on us more than ever, but true insurance isn't sold. I encourage us to realize we journey our own line, while being part of a bigger infinite line.”

Stylistically speaking, Phosphoro wasn't aiming to ape the work of someone else. Rather, he made what he wanted to hear because it had been missing.

“The songs are a sound I wanted to hear over this past year,” he writes. “I think each song shows some growth for me as a writer and shares something new that I hadn’t brought to the table before.”

That said, he's also openly anti-pigeonhole and even moreso than most indie artists.

“It can be hard to create with a particular direction in mind,” Phosphoro says. “I don’t have a defined audience and I don’t want to be a copycat. I’d rather blaze a trail, or even be a Van Gogh -style artist, rather than just get in the same line everyone is in to become famous. I’d like to contribute to the collective canvas.”

That canvas includes notable work from his grandfather, a pianist in the Charlie Fisk Orchestra at Chicago during the 1950s, his mother, also an artist, and his father, a multi-instrumentalist in the 33rd Army Band (USAREUR), all of whom he cites as crucial sources of inspiration.

Seasoned musicians will note all the space in Phosphoro's mix. No percussion? No second or third vocal tracks? Is there a bass, even (usually, yes)? Music fans will do well to let the music be what it is.

“I often wrestled with the question of 'does my music need more?'” the artist says. “I feel like I’ve been dancing around the music industry and society, not quite fitting into any of the crowds, knocking on all the doors but not yet finding the entrance to where I need to be. I want to add new or fresh ideas to our industry.”

Cognibrew Records describes Phosphoro as having been raised in Pocatello, Idaho, “where one's path, social awareness, and of course music, were common lessons of childhood. As a songwriter today, he is in pursuit of musical and spiritual substance while considering topics of humanity.”

“I think I put themes of unity and teamwork into my songs,” Phosphoro writes. “There is also a strong presence for big ideas, such as creation, or the larger purpose that we all face along this infinite line of humanity and history.”

Phosophoro is the sole talent behind everything on the album from initial writing to final recording. He worked with Alusion Studios in Tucson “to mix the songs and add a few final effects to the master,” of which he said, “I always enjoy working with Jim there at the studio.” He is also part of Blind Autumn with whom he has dropped three LPs and an EP record. Previous releases also include two solo LPs as the American Captain.

“This Infinite Line” by Phosphoro on the Cognibrew Records label is available from quality digital music stores online worldwide now. Get in early, art-pop fans.

– S. McCauley

Lead Press Release Writer

www.Octiive.com

“This Infinite Line” by Phosphoro —

https://music.apple.com/us/album/this-infinite-line-ep/1576316729

Phosphoro Official Website —

https://phosphoromusic.com/

Phosphoro Official Twitter —

@phosphoromusic

Moro releases new single 'Cinco de Mayo'

 

Legendary folk guitarist Moro has dropped his latest single, a Spanish instrumental written and played in the toque style of Andalusia, “Cinco de Mayo.” The writer and performer of 12 LP albums and the No.1 solo-guitar song from 1981-1984 has performed in over 50 countries, for kings and queens, sheiks and movie stars, but is perhaps best renowned as the most-celebrated champion of the historic troubadour tradition of the last 200 years — and likely the most well-traveled of all time.

A few months before his 21^st birthday in the early 1960s, Moro took up a backpack, left his wallet behind, and set out to circumscribe the globe with nothing but his guitar and his soul. The result became a finalist for ForeWord Magazine's 2012 Book of the Year Award, his acclaimed autobiography, Kin to the Wind.

Today Moro releases singles on the Budwick independent label whenever he feels a hankering, and they enjoy international radio circulation. The present release of “Cinco de Mayo” is his first since 2019's “Wanderin'.” As the vaunted artist relates it, “Cinco...” forced its way into being.

“I needed time for the right thing to come along,” he says.

Moro records in a pair of insulated rooms attached to his garage the size of walk-in closets. Far from the mic-and-laptop rigs many indie artists content themselves with today, Moro enjoys the warm acoustics of state-of-the-art analog equipment. And when he’s particularly happy with a recording, he sends it to a digital mastering lab for finalization.

All this and more is palpable while listening to contemporary tracks by Moro. All this and much more.

“I strongly feel 'Cinco de Mayo' would’ve pleased my friend Dorotea Estampio,” he writes. “I met her in Old Town Granada — she was a gypsy flamenco dancer and we performed onstage together, she on her toes and I on my guitar. I grew to love her so much, the Andalusian-style melody of 'Cinco de Mayo' actually roots in that love and makes me all at once happy and sad whenever I feel her immortal spirit enjoying it.”

To hear Moro tell it is to give faces to the seeming spirits swaying in his sounds.

“When she danced,” says Moro, “she regarded the world around her with a soul-penetrating gaze so intense as to be capable of exorcism. Our awed crowds studied her with bated breath.”

Sharing the stage with him were her husband, also dancing, and her teenage son, also playing guitar. Moro speaks of all three with the friendly reverence of a collaborator who's worked on a thing of marvel.

“Ingenious, clever and alert, [her son] somehow always knew where I was going with the music. So we easily became a duet, and the four of us — two guitarists and two dancers — performed in public squares, gypsy caves and even theaters, for aficionados throughout Andalusia. The people generally gave us a little money with which Dorotea bought us food and beautiful, if humble, lodging.”

“Cinco de Mayo” was originally published to the world in Moro's 1994 CD, “Amilucience.” Today's updated version comes as remastered with surgical precision by London's famous Tom Frampton, whom Moro describes as “a great young engineer with unheard-of understanding, whose legendary skill has elevated the sound.”

Lifelong symphony patron Ted Wildhage says of the remastered Cinco de Mayo, “The notes are so full, so resonant and beautiful. Hearing it took me back to a special place with good times and memories. I’ll keep it and play it often.”

And what of Moro's own memories? He's as wistful as any of us.

“I’ve never been so happy with anyone,” he writes. “I'd have stayed with these gypsies forever. But a noble and fascinating Spanish duchess in the audience invited me home for dinner late one balmy Saturday night after our show. Only 20, I’m afraid I went home with her and never saw my gypsy friends again. Life with them had been so happy and spiritually golden, losing them in this way gave me a lifelong heartache that refuses to go away.”

“Cinco de Mayo” by Moro on the Budwick label is available from quality digital music stores online worldwide now. Get in early, classical-guitar music fans.

– S. McCauley

Lead Press Release Writer

www.Octiive.com

“Cinco de Mayo” by Moro —

https://www.amazon.com/Cinco-De-Mayo-Remastered-2021/dp/B09C24RT1Z/

“Cinco de Mayo” Official Slideshow Video —

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xx7Bhw60Jds

Moro Official Website —

www.moromusic.com

Paula Punch debut studio album 'Song to the Trees' out now

Australian alt-rocker and singer-songwriter Paula Punch has dropped her official studio debut LP, “Song to the Trees.” Bearing 11 original tracks recorded in 2019 with her band, the Fireflys, it comes from Sydney indie record label, Punch Park. “Song to the Trees” presents Punch and the Firefly Band in a set of tracks recorded live in the studio with additional takes from guest artists laid atop them. The result presents these artists in the same dynamic style which local fans loved at their many popular live shows, but with a new and exciting dimension and crystalline clarity from razor-sharp studio production.

In short, if you've ever been a fan of Paula Punch's stage show or music releases, this record will resonate with you in all the old ways and in an entirely new one.

Speaking of the themes of her new record, Punch Park writes:

“Paula Punch has always been drawn to nature, the nature of the world around her, and of course human nature. Her stories are enmeshed with metaphors that speak of change, cycles, disruption, decline, growth, birth, rebirth, love and metamorphosis. It is a woman's journey to finding her own power, a celebration of love, and an exploration of nature and our part in it.”

“Being a singer songwriter, my music can cross many genres,” says Paula Punch. “I let the music and the story take me where it needs to go. Some songs are quite folk style, others country or rock, or classic ballads, like my song 'Tender Moment.'”

She's also open about the feminine aspect of her contemporary work.

“I like to rock out on songs. I loved playing in my early university band. However, it was when I was alone at home looking after my two young boys that I picked up my guitar again and started writing my own music. There is a strong theme of heartache in my songs, but I hope people also hear the message of women’s empowerment in the music, and relate to the stories, and feel inspired to express themselves as well”

“Tell your story,” says Paula Punch. “Never let anyone else bring you down, or stop you from following your dream. And my message for women: I understand your challenges – I share them – I sing them. I hope that you come with me on my journey of love, pain, joy, anger and forgiveness through music.”

“My message for my audience today would be to do what you love,” Paula says, herself. “Follow your passion. Life is so short — you have one shot. Life is not a demo. Know that it is never too late to do what you love.”

And she also makes an special point of declaring her record includes songs calling for action — her ecological fight songs.

“I strongly believe that we are all part of this circle of life, and music is entwined with it. It is crucial that we make a change in our lives to help nature heal. My songs 'Full Moon Rising' and 'Song to the Trees' reflect my concern for where we are right now.”

The Firefly Band are Paula Punch, Robin Gist, Marko Simec, Reuben Alexander, and Mike Rix.

“Song to the Trees” features work by guest musicians Matt Fell, Rod McCormack, Mark Punch, Clare O'Meara, Mark Collins, Bob Scott and Nick Wales, as well as portrait photography by Tim Bauer and nature photography by Nick Wales, and cover art by Scarlett Vespa and Paula Punch. It was recorded at Electric Avenue Studios by Philip Punch, Robin Gist and Jem Hoppe, and mastered by Steve Smart at 301 Studios, both studios operating in Sydney.

“Song to the Trees” by Paula Punch on the Punch Park label is available from quality digital music stores online worldwide now. Get in early, alt-rock and singer-songwriter fans.

– S. McCauley

Lead Press Release Writer

www.Octiive.com

“Song to the Trees” by Paula Punch —

https://www.amazon.com/Song-Trees-Paula-Punch/dp/B096K5R5RV/

Paula Punch Official Website —

https://www.paulapunchmusic.com/