Ameila is Teisha Helgerson (vocals), Jesse Emerson (upright bass, electric bass, acoustic, piano, percussion, autoharp) and Scott Weddle (acoustic & electric guitars, electric bass, vocals, bass harmonica, glockenspiel, marxaphone, percussion, loops).

Teisha’s vocals are soft and expressive. That style compliments the music produced by her band mates. I was impressed by the overall musicianship and versatility of this band. Considering there are three people providing the music, it speaks volumes for their talents and aptitude for switching between instruments. The ebb and flow of this recording remains consistent throughout, as the vocalist does not waver from her style or tone. The band provides a lush backdrop for her to maintain that tempo and style, which is a mixture of folk, rock, and pop, with an emphasis on roots and a smidgen of country twang thrown in for some extra flavor.

“Dolores” is a nice toe tapping tune that I could imagine hearing on the radio and the lead off track “Enigmo” while delivered in a different language, could find its way to the Latin charts and end up being a cross over hit.“Thick As Thieves” is perhaps the most interesting with a nice lead off electric guitar lick. It has a contagious ring to it as the guitar reverberates and the acoustic is strumming along behind, it makes for a nice instrumental and actually the one song I could not see Tiesha singing to so it was a good choice for the only track without vocals. It is very short but I was very interested to hear more as it was quite a step away from the rest of the album. “Sugar Falls” would be another good choice for airplay. Interesting enough that familiar electric guitar weaves its way into this track as well. I have to say with authority that as much as I can appreciate the acoustic side of their work I would like to hear more of that electric guitar, it is very tasteful yet it makes a point with strong lines placed just right to enhance the lyrics. ‘Eyesore” ends up being the most pop injected tune and the most commercially viable, which I think would engage new listeners and push them to explore the rest of the album.

This is a strong release and I can see Amelia going places if they continue to develop.

Artist: Amelia
Title: A Long, Lovely List of Repairs
Genre: Folk-Roots
Label: Adrenaline
Website
Source Link

Tracks:
01. Enimigo
02. Farewell
03. Tragedy
04. After You
05. Try
06. The End
07. Dolores
08. Thick As Thieves
09. Sugar Falls
10. The Great Escape
11. Eyesore
12. Cover the Leak
13. Needlework
14. Here We Are

© MuzikReviews.com

Keith “MuzikMan” Hannaleck

Polarity/1, the multi-genre artist best known for bold, honest, hard-hitting songs, is re-releasing his hit album, Yankin’ the Food Chain, now with re-mastered tracks. Polarity/1’s music has been incorporated by dance theaters and documentarists, including Danny Schechter’s feature-length film documentary ‘In Debt We Trust’ and Battery Dance Company’s 26th Annual Downtown Dance Festival last year.

Yankin’ the Food Chain fuses electronica, acid jazz, alternative and electro-folk to create a set of funky-fresh beats infused with crucial political messages to future generations. The serious issues covered on Yankin’ force listeners to reanalyze their own ethics, especially when cornered with their own self-images in “Look at Your Shoeshine”: “Can you see yourself in your shoeshine?/ Step back!”

From the excitingly chilly vocals of “Salesman,” to the persuasive political raps found in “News Goo,” to the astoundingly real lyrics of “Di Hard” (”The good die young/ and the bad get paid”), Yankin’ has something to offer every music-lover. Perhaps most notable, though, are the album’s funky, upbeat tracks, such as “Boomers Blues,” “Jam Inya Jimmies” and “Cincinnati Pink.” With lyrics like “She’s catchin’ the groove and won’t let go,” it’s obvious that once you put on this Polarity/1 record, you won’t be letting go of the groove either.

Buy Yankin’ The Food Chain:

But don’t take our word for it; here’s what others have to say:

“Polarity/1 is a musical force unleashing some of the hippest beats and timely lyric[s] on the scene” (MediaChannel.org).

“‘Di Hard’ is a medium tempo groove with rapped and sung vocals, everything done by Polar except for exquisite backing vocals by Scott Parker Allen and Sabina Sciubba. The song is a comment on Princess Di’s demise, the role of the media, and the times we live in, serious without becoming sentimentalized or preachy. An interesting exercise in a style that’s very hard to pull off” (Recording Magazine).

“Polar succeeds in his mission of forcing you to pay attention and not lull into the sounds you ‘expect’ to hear” (StarPolish.com).

The music of Polarity/1 is exactly what the name suggests—”conjoined opposites,” including the new (cutting-edge electronica, hip-hop and nu-jazz) and the old (roots music of America, including blues, funk, country and early jazz, Brazil (samba, pagode, etc.) and West African groove science).

After a few years of playing percussion in samba bands at S.O.B.’s and other venues. Polar landed in hip hop which combined his interests in grooves, samples and wordplay into one form. He and rapper D.A.V. became Medicine Crew. In the aftermath of 9/11, Polar was asked to do a remix of Nile Rodgers’ We Are Family Project released on a compilation by Tommy Boy Records. His experience of 9/11 which was perpetrated in his neighborhood led to a collaboration with multi-platinum Pakistan rock band Junoon resulting in their hit song ‘No More’. John Hollander has choreographed four Polarity/1 compositions for New York’s Battery Dance Company’s fall season opening in November 2006 and has been touring extensively with the piece. In 2008, he scored “The Other Side” for the Quorum Ballet from Lisbon Portugal. P/1’s new collaboration, Koko Dozo, released their first album Illegal Space Aliens in February 2008.

And you can check out Polarity/1 for yourself and learn how to purchase Yankin’ the Food Chain by heading to www.musicdish.net/polarity1/

Even though the band knew how people would interpret their name, the lead singer Teisha Helgerson commented, “We thought about how it sounded rolling off the tongue, how it looked on the page, and how it would represent our music.” That kind of go-for-it-anyway attitude typifies their musical approach and their ever-widening appeal with their audience.

A Long, Lovely List of Repairs features Tiesha’s dreamy vocals along with her contributions on drums and the rest of the musical montage is created by core members Jesse Emerson (upright bass, electric bass, acoustic, piano, percussion, autoharp) and Scott Weddle (acoustic & electric guitars, electric bass, vocals, bass harmonica, glockenspiel, marxaphone, percussion, loops). Noted are the many instruments that the three members combined play and how it enables their music to be just as complex and emotive because of their strong versatility. The music is a mature mixture of folk and roots with reflective lyrics and thoughtful expressions. Rather than lulling you to sleep, Amelia’s music will disarm you and pull you in like a magnet and will not let go.

A Long, Lovely List of Repairs offers memorable tracks such as “Eyesore”, “The End” and the closer “Here We Are.” With their strong roots based in Portland Oregon, the band has realized tremendous success on the West Coast and with an impending tour this year is a sure bet to expand their fan base nationwide.

Visit the Amelia website for more information including album orders, pictures, media and more.

Contact: Chip Schutzman
Company: Miles High Productions
Address: 6622 Delongpre Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90028
Tel: 323-806-0400
Fax: 323-462-0829
Amelia Website
Source Link

PR Created and Distributed By MuzikReviews.com

On August 24, 2006, Wildflowers Records alternative-country artist Amy Speace stopped by Fort Collins’ KRFC 88.9 FM for a live in-studio interview and performance on the station’s Live@Lunch show. Now MusicDish is making 8 tracks available from that memorable show freely available in MP3 format through social networking site ReverbNation at http://www.reverbnation.com/amyspeace

Amy’s ReverbNation profile offers 8 live tracks from her third album “Songs for Bright Street,” recorded at the station, including “Double Wide Trailer,” “Dreamin,” “Make Me Lonely Again,” “The Real Thing,” “Row Row Row,” “Shed This Skin,” “Step Out of the Shade” and “Two.” KRFC 88.9 was voted Best Radio Station by Coloradan readers, as its Live@Lunch show has a listening base of thousands which grows daily toward FM range/demographics in Colorado of over 700,000 (without counting internet listeners). Live@Lunch has celebrated over 1,000 shows since launching in March 2003.

The promotional campaign is part of a larger effort to promote MusicDish’s latest downloadable MP3 album “Amy Speace - Live On Radio.” Gathering nine tracks Amy’s most memorable radio performances on Ft. Collins’ KRFC 88.9 FM, NY’s WFUV 90.7 FM and Boston’s WMBR 88.1 FM, as well as syndicated show The Art of Song, the full album is available for download at http://www.musicdish.net/amyspeace/mp3/

Amy Speace has already won a loyal grass-roots fan base, thanks in large part to live performances that merge warmth, humor and emotional immediacy, and to a tireless touring schedule that’s already taken her across the United States. She’s also won considerable critical acclaim, with The Village Voice observing that Speace is “taking her Americana away from twangy contemplation toward tangy confrontation” and noting that she’s “not another of those breathy would-be child poets, but a real singing writer of songs.” Time Out New York stated, “Amy Speace plays sweet, twangy folk music with a clear voice and an innocent vulnerability,” while The Nashville Scene noted that she “balances wry humor with open-hearted honesty.” And renowned Nashville critic Robert K. Oermann, writing in Music Row, dubbed her a “new star.”

MusicDish, LLC has been at the forefront of the digital music sector, publishing some of the industry’s leading music magazine, including MusicDish.com and Mi2N.com, as well as dynamic white label content solutions. MusicDish also offers artist development and label management support, combining saturated online marketing with business networking and consulting.
http://www.musicdish.net

Maybe you’ve noticed that America’s debt industry — based on legalized loan-sharking — has created an economic crisis that threatens to go global. On a more local level — millions of families are facing home foreclosures and bankruptcy. And the credit card offers just keep flowing into our mailboxes.

“The avalanche of propaganda from the US debt industry with offers of ‘cheap’ credit is downright immoral as millions of families see their homes foreclosed,” noted NY-based multi-instrumentalist/arranger/composer/producer Polarity/1. “Having long worked on the subject, I felt I had to do something in order to educate Americans and counter the propaganda”

Polarity/1, a multi-instrumentalist/arranger/composer/producer, was one of the early voices warning of the impending debt crisis, having composed most of the score and served as Music Supervisor for Danny Schechter’s feature-length documentary IN DEBT WE TRUST. Focused on America’s dangerous addiction to debt and the predatory nature of our credit and loan industry, the film predicted over two years ago the economic meltdown being experienced today. And he’s now making the message available to the public, offering all his tracks from the documentary - including “Free Money,” “Charge It,” “Free Money Blues,” and “I’m So Broke” - as free MP3 downloads at www.reverbnation.com/polarity1

The music of Polarity/1 is exactly what the name suggests: conjoined opposites — a mash up of new: cutting edge electronica/hip hop/nu-jazz and old; roots music of America (blues, funk, country, early jazz), Brazil (samba, pagoda, etc.) and West African groove science. Polarity also describes the dual streams of Polarity/1’s musical output: songs and instrumentals.

After a few years of playing percussion in samba bands at S.O.B.’s and other venues. Polar landed in hip hop which combined his interests in grooves, samples and wordplay into one form. He and rapper D.A.V. became Medicine Crew. In the aftermath of 9/11, Polar was asked to do a remix of Nile Rodgers’ We Are Family Project released on a compilation by Tommy Boy Records. His experience of 9/11 which was perpetrated in his neighborhood led to a collaboration with multi-platinum Pakistan rock band Junoon resulting in their hit song ‘No More’. John Hollander has choreographed four Polarity/1 compositions for New York’s Battery Dance Company’s fall season opening in November 2006 and has been touring extensively with the piece. In 2008, he scored “The Other Side” for the Quorum Ballet from Lisbon, Portugal. P/1’s new collaboration, Koko Dozo, released their first album Illegal Space Aliens in February 2008.

Check out IN DEBT WE TRUST — the scariest movie of the century. www.indebtwetrust.com (Better hold the butter on the popcorn.)

To get more information on these issues, assistance with debt problems and ways you can fight back — go to www.stopthesqueeze.org

Since 1995, USA Songwriting Competition has been honoring songwriters from all over the world. Winners came from Australia, Japan, Canada, UK, Germany, Brazil, South Africa, USA, etc. Past winners have gotten recording contracts, getting their songs on film, TV as well as getting cuts with major artists. The 2005 Winner of the country category had his winning song cut by Faith Hill. The 2005 winner of the pop catgeory was signed by MySpace/Interscope records.

Entries must be entered by May 30, 2008 or earlier. The entry form can be found at: http://www.songwriting.net/tagit.html

This coincides with the release by MusicDish of Amy’s most memorable radio performances through a new downloadable MP3 album “Amy Speace - Live On Radio.” Gathering nine tracks from performances on Ft. Collins’ KRFC 88.9 FM, NY’s WFUV 90.7 FM and Boston’s WMBR 88.1 FM, as well as syndicated show The Art of Song, the album is available for download at http://www.musicdish.net/amyspeace/mp3/

John Platt’s three-hour tour of tunes strikes a balance between the “Joni Mitchells/Harry Chapins/Jackson Brownes” and “lesser-known but equally talented” singer/songwriters. Guests have ranged from icons like Pete Seeger, Joan Baez, Loudon Wainwright, and Judy Collins, to WFUV mainstays like Dar Williams, Bruce Cockburn, and Luka Bloom, to emerging artists like Richard Julian, Sonya Kitchell, and Ben Taylor. With his gentle probing John helps us to know more about the music - and who the artists are as people.

From the rustic rush of “Step Out of the Shade” to the bittersweet lilt of “Water Landing” to the gentle acoustic intimacy of “Two,” Songs for Bright Street’s 12 original compositions (plus a slyly countrified reading of the Blondie classic “Dreaming”) showcase Speace’s unique gifts, offering catchy Americana with indelible hooks, sharply observed lyrics and a gritty urban edge. Among those impressed by her sassy songcraft is legendary folk-pop songstress Judy Collins, who chose Songs for Bright Street to release on her new Wildflower label.

Amy Speace has already won a loyal grass-roots fan base, thanks in large part to live performances that merge warmth, humor and emotional immediacy, and to a tireless touring schedule that’s already taken her across the United States. She’s also won considerable critical acclaim, with The Village Voice observing that Speace is “taking her Americana away from twangy contemplation toward tangy confrontation” and noting that she’s “not another of those breathy would-be child poets, but a real singing writer of songs.” Time Out New York stated, “Amy Speace plays sweet, twangy folk music with a clear voice and an innocent vulnerability,” while The Nashville Scene noted that she “balances wry humor with open-hearted honesty.” And renowned Nashville critic Robert K. Oermann, writing in Music Row, dubbed her a “new star.”
http://www.amyspeace.com

The MP3 album gathers 9 live tracks from performances on Ft. Collins’ KRFC 88.9 FM, NY’s WFUV 90.7 FM and Boston’s WMBR 88.1 FM, as well as The Art of Song, which was featured last summer on all 118 radio stations nationwide that syndicate the show. The album is available free for download at http://www.musicdish.net/amyspeace/mp3/

AMY SPEACE’S “LIVE ON RADIO” TRACKLISTING

* The Art of Song - with Dillon and Vivian Nebitt, Live from Taos, New Mexico
1. The Real Thing (3:00)
* KRFC 88.9FM Ft. Collins - Live at Lunch” (08/24/06)
2. Double Wide Trailer (4:02)
3. Row Row Row (4:49)
4. Shed This Skin (5:45)
5. Two (3:21)
* WFUV 90.7 FM New York - City Folk Sunday Breakfast” with John Platt (12/11/06)
6. Dreamin’ - with James Mastro (3:19)
7. Step Out of the Shade (4:07)
* WMBR 88.1FM Boston- “Troubador” (10/12/06)
8. After The Flood (3:33)
9. Make Me Lonely Again (4:49)

Amy Speace has already won a loyal grass-roots fan base, thanks in large part to live performances that merge warmth, humor and emotional immediacy, and to a tireless touring schedule that’s already taken her across the United States. She’s also won considerable critical acclaim, with The Village Voice observing that Speace is “taking her Americana away from twangy contemplation toward tangy confrontation” and noting that she’s “not another of those breathy would-be child poets, but a real singing writer of songs.” Time Out New York stated, “Amy Speace plays sweet, twangy folk music with a clear voice and an innocent vulnerability,” while The Nashville Scene noted that she “balances wry humor with open-hearted honesty.” And renowned Nashville critic Robert K. Oermann, writing in Music Row, dubbed her a “new star.”
http://www.amyspeace.com

SOULJAZZ ORCHESTRA (Canada) + KOBO TOWN (Canada)
KARLEX (France) + CHARANGA SOLEIL (USA)
plus
DJ NEVA

Free to the Public!

BAMcafe Live
Brooklyn Academy of Music
30 Lafayette Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11217
718-636-4100
http://www.bam.org/events/bamcafelive.aspx

Friday, April 4th, 2008:
DJ NEVA 8pm
SOULJAZZ ORCHESTRA 9pm
KOBO TOWN 10pm

Saturday, April 5th, 2008:
DJ NEVA 8pm
KARLEX 9pm
CHARANGA SOLEIL 10pm

“Music Is The Weapon: Voices United Across Borders” is an ongoing experiment in breaking through America’s current protectionist mentality that creates so many obstacles and restrictions for musicians, and for artists in general. While countries around the world welcome American musicians, international musicians are finding it increasingly difficult to enter and work in the U.S. Issues such as obtaining visas, dealing with senseless homeland security laws, lack of music industry support, lack of media interest, prohibitive expenses, etc. - are among the major obstacles encountered by musicians in this country.

The participating musicians all come from the collision of different cultures and traditions. Although we share a common language called music, our experiences and backgrounds define our various dialects. This project connects multicultural musicians across national boundaries, to perform together in a rich and vibrant exchange of cultural expression, and hopefully create some new musical dialects in the process!

In the spirit of internationalism, we invite you to join us in a celebration of joining forces across borders - in this case, Europe, United States and Canada.

MusicDish - http://www.musicdish.net
Music for the Masses - http://www.musicforthemasses.org

Participating Artists:

* KOBO TOWN ( http://www.kobotown.com )
Named after the vibrant and turbulent neighborhood in old Port-of-Spain where Calypso was born, Kobo Town strives to recover the social conscience, satirical storytelling and strong acoustic/organic rhythms that characterized Trinidadian music in the past. Based in Toronto, Canada, the band serves up a steaming mix of Calypso, Roots Reggae, Dub, Mento and more.
BAMcafé Live: Friday, April 4th - 10pm

* SOULJAZZ ORCHESTRA ( http://www.souljazzorchestra.com )
Hailing from Ottawa, Canada, the Souljazz Orchestra combines Jazz, Funk, African and Latin music while touching on politics and spirituality. Most of their songs are rooted in Nigerian Afrobeat, but there are elements of Soukous, Salsa, Funk and Free Jazz thrown in as well.
BAMcafé Live: Friday, April 4th - 9pm

* CHARANGA SOLEIL ( http://www.charangasoleil.com )
Founded in New York City, Charanga Soleil is an all-star international dance band featuring some of the most seasoned and creative musicians on NY’s international scene. With a classic repertoire and original arrangements, the band brings together three of the world’s greatest dance genres: Cuban salsa, Congolese rumba-soukous, and Haitian compas.
BAMcafé Live: Saturday, April 5th - 10pm

* KARLEX ( http://www.karlexmusic.com )
Based in Montpelier, France, Karlex is a Haitian American singer who fuses with the vibes of his native island with funky guitar sounds, heavy bass and soulful rhythms in a unique blend he calls Afro Groove (i.e., World Soul meets Funk meets Pop meets Afro).
BAMcafé Live: Saturday, April 5th - 9pm

* DJ NEVA ( http://www.musicforthemasses.org )
NYC-born DJ Neva is an Ethnomusicologist with a specialization in “musical creoles” - the magic that happens when two or more cultures come together to create something new. Each of these two nights will inspire its own unique mix that reflects the bands that will be performing.
BAMcafé Live: Friday, April 4th - 8pm
BAMcafé Live: Saturday, April 5th - 8pm

Adelaide is a collection of meaningful, slow-medium folk rock songs. While listening to this album, you get the feeling that any of these songs could easily be in a soundtrack during the turning point of a film. Miller’s guitars and vocals blend together effortlessly while the organ and piano perfectly compliment the basic folk rock sound of the album. Instead of keeping with the usual acoustic guitar and piano set-up that most folk rock musicians use, Miller brings in an organ on some songs, which makes the album stand out and creates an overall fuller sound. “Say Hello” is one of the album’s faster-paced rock songs that showcase this full organ sound, in addition to a melodic bridge and break down of electric guitar and voice. “Let’s Go” and “Another Day in the Life” are two additional solid, medium-tempo rock songs that move the album along nicely with catchy rock guitars and strong vocals. The rest of the album is slower-paced, folk rock ballads, including “Whom Am I,” an emotional song with dreamy acoustic guitars, dramatic piano and introspective lyrics. “Man Overboard,” another slower-paced rock folk song, features one of the album’s most catchy guitar riffs. In “Let us End,” Miller sings colorful harmonies, creating a soulful feel that reveals the depth of his vocal abilities. “Four Leaf Clover” brings in the mandolin and steel guitar to give the listener a taste of country. “This Life” features both a catchy piano and keyboard that give the song an ambiance of driving through the country at sunset.

Adelaide is an album of listenable instrumentation and dynamic songwriting. Tim Miller is definitely here to stay and I wouldn’t be surprised if very soon we start hearing his songs in more mainstream outlets.

Artist: Tim Miller
Title: Adelaide
Genre: Acoustic-Rock-Folk
Label: Independent
Website
Source Link

Tracks:
01. Say Hello
02. Let’s Go
03. Make Believe
04. Who I Am
05. Man Overboard
06. Heaven Only Knows
07. Another Day in the Life
08. Let Us End
09. The Point
10. Adelaide
11. Four Leaf Clover
12. This Life
13. Remember This Day

© MuzikReviews.com

Erin Bruno-MuzikReviews.com Contributor