From Ashes To Ashes To New Inspiration
Does it matter if artists are picking up stuff from each other?
Even since pop music (or was it the music itself?) was coined as a phrase, a debate has been going on about whether one (or more) artist(s) was inspired (some would insist, copied) by (from) another. That debate goes on even now in the era when sampling has become some sort of a standard.
The question though remains - does it matter? Well, in one aspect it does, in the sense where you want to determine or know who the artists that were source of inspiration more often than not, and that inspiration could be both conscious or subconscious, it could be a whole song, a melody line or few notes that are simply similar if the inspired songs/works were as good or successful as the source, even better.
In that respect, David Bowie was certainly one of the most inspirational modern artists. Take for example his ‘Ashes To Ashes’ whether consciously or unconsciously, not only as distinguished (and good) artists like Bryan Ferry and Psychedelic Furs inspired by it, but it was one of those songs that practically inspired and defined pop-rock in the eighties.
Samantha Fish, Jesse Dayton - Deathwish
Fish and Dayton stick to good old blues here, but in the way they see and feel it, and they know it so well, that they are able to fully make it their own. No wonder they got a Grammy nomination for the album this one is taken from.
Owelle - Lucide
In some previous time, this Geneva, Switzerland-based artist would have remained on the fringes with this sound design type music, but now, with all the variations on a (good) beat), it can easily be turned into a single.
Pictoria Vark - I Can’t Bike
Like changing her real name Victoria Park into Pictoria Vark, Victoria tackles her first single with a remix from her label colleague Teenage Sequence not only to revive it, but to give it another good shake-up.
Nisa - Currents
Nisa Lumaj is a relatively new name on the NYC scene, but judging by a good melody, inventive electronics, and a matching singing voice, surely a name to remember.
Enchanted Forest - Magic
There are so many takes on electronic music these days that just stick to the well-known, without taking any musical risks. This duo though seems to have decided to do it briefly, but effectively.
Palehound - Eye On The Bat
Palehound like more familiar melody lines, but they obviously know how they should really run, and sticking to them, here in the right way, is actually taking another sort of a risk.
Byland - Settle My Mind
Alie Byland has one of those intriguing voices that can pick up on any melody and make it sound great. Here, even more so, she wrote a good one herself and makes it even better.
Lucius - Stranger Danger
Lucious was somewhere in the shadows recently, but, luckily, with such a good song, they should come back to the forefront relatively quickly, showing at the same time that they are more than a one-trick pony.
VIAL - ur dead
These three girls have a serious punk/power pop record collection (or a set of playlists, whatever) and they have put it (them) to very good use here, and at less than two minutes at that.
Jessie Wagner, Scott Martin - Are You Scared
Wagner has quite a distinguished resume - from Chic and Lenny Kravitz to Little Steven, so it is no wonder she handles this blues/soul combo with such ease and aplomb.
Kristen Gallerneaux - TNT Chorus
Another more experimental artist going the singles way, but even if it is only a sample that is to attract listeners to more of Gallerneaux’s music it is worth the time and effort.
Sun Room - At Least I Tried
Punk in all shapes and forms has infiltrated good old surf rock and this trio amply (and quickly) shows how that infiltration can work so well without losing that fast step.
Campus Christy - Very Complex
Campus Christy is Chris Manak aka Peanut Butter Wolf (vocals) and Brian Ellis (instruments), with Manak stepping away from underground hip-hop and going the (good) pop way.
Erika Angell - Dress of Stillness
Angell is an excellent Swedish artist/composer based in Montreal and her angular, unorthodox patterns seem quite well suited to Montreal’s always surprising and inventive Constellation label.
Dutch Uncles - At The Wheel
Manchester’s Dutch Uncles hop on the cassette revival track, as this will be to buy solely on this format, but you can always stream it, and you should unless you want that cassette after all.
Thomas Nicholas Band - Same Kids
If you watched any of the ‘American Pie’ endless series of movies you surely Nicholas, and no matter what you think of his acting, you should pick up this one, as it can surely serve as a base for another career.
Frenchy and the Punk - Cities in Dust
Samantha Stephenson and Scott Holland pick up where Siouxiee & The Banshees left (before Siouxiee came back) and show here what modern post-punk should sound like.
Diane Coll - This Heart
With such good songwriting and a matching voice, Coll should not worry about making it, particularly among the fans of Americana and/or singer-songwriter genres.
Nailah Hunter - Strange Delights
Hunter is an LA-based harpist/multi-instrumentalist and composer showing here that she deserves all those descriptions, including that of an excellent vocalist.
Zach Russell - Take Me Back to Tennessee
Russell shows here that the soul and country combination is not only alive and well but that is thriving, particularly in the hands of artists that know how to handle it properly.