A\Version by 51 Peg

 

“We’ve all dealt with the heartbreak and confusion of losing connection with people we’ve loved. Moreover, society itself has become literally (during the pandemic) and figuratively distanced from each other. Different “versions” of reality exist for everyone which has made it difficult to connect despite technology having been designed for us to communicate more effectively.”

                                                                          51 Peg

 

With themes centred around the fragility of relationships we have not only with ourselves, but with others,  Washington DC band, 51 Peg have released their new album A\Version. 

 

“The Distance Between” has heavy industrial mechanical sounds accompanied by a pulsing and resonant beat and powerful, anthemic lyrics and vocals.  With a spiraling, reverberating soundscape “Cursory Rhymes” couples gritty almost taunting lyrics and vocals with an eddying and satisfyingly disorientating beat.  “Roots Into Sand” has an almost nostalgic mechanized sound with growling and harsh vocals delivering gritty and deliciously dangerous lyrics.  Looming and ominous, “Digital Disease” crashes forward with a beautifully disturbing melodic sound together with resonant vocals and clever, poignant lyrics.  “In Return” has the portentous and hypnotic ticking of a clock twisted wildly  with foreboding vocals and lyrics.  A harmonious and melodic guitar starts the musical journey in “Werewolf” as the poignant lyrics and beseeching vocals captivate the listener.   “Eyes Without A Face” is a  wonderful homage to the Billy Idol song while bringing a unique and enticing sound to an old song.

 

Overall 51 Peg’s album A\Version takes the listener on a relatable, sometimes nostalgic and evocative musical journey.

Links :

Bandcamp : https://51peg.bandcamp.com/

                    : https://51peg.bandcamp.com/album/a-version

Spotify : https://open.spotify.com/album/2hFWLz2YAOeFpxbFkxnH76?si=T9z8Vf31RX2SCiy3RWCycw&dd=1

YouTube : https://youtu.be/uDgnEcRxm50

Eco-Anxiety by Mari Dangerfield

 

Addressing a serious issue in a lighthearted and approachable way, “Eco-Anxiety” is the new single from Mari Dangerfield’s upcoming EP Eco-Fever.  Quirky and captivating with an upbeat tempo “Eco-Anxiety”, is accompanied  by the unique and playful sound of the stylophone.  The beautiful vocals convey a sense of urgency and passion, encouraging listeners to take heed of the climate emergency and the stress its looming consequences are causing.    

 

“Eco-Anxiety” is a truly memorable and entertaining listening experience that is sure to leave a lasting impression and bodes wonderfully for the upcoming EP Eco-Fever.

Links :

Webpage : http://www.maridangerfield.com/

YouTube : https://youtube.com/shorts/udB2OIrR7sw?feature=share

Spotify : https://open.spotify.com/track/0ceiLYUBaXZtkH9DsW6ILk?si=B47aYqelQqi8Muc0U750Fw&dd=1

Good Intentions by BELLHEAD

 

“I like unreliable narrators.  When there is a solo survivor of a shipwreck do you take him at his word? I wanted to go all in on song lyrics that were open to interpretation.  Are the intentions truly good or is there something else unseen.”Is how Chicago based Post Punk duo BELLHEAD describe the premise of their soon to be released EP Good Intentions.

 

“Bad Taste”, the first track on the EP, has a breathless, urgent gothic sound with hypnotic mumblings and a hint of industrial steampunk entwining deliciously with provocative and insinuating lyrics.  With a buoyant wave coursing through the music “Into The Deep” lulls the listener with almost siren like vocals before turbulent and crashing lyrics seem to drag and plunge into something darker, lurking deep within the musical soundscape.  “Valentine” begins with an eighties nostalgic sound reminiscent of teen movies from that era and the innocent love stories they depicted before it takes on a more sinister and twisted suggestive tone with unsettling and evocative lyrics.  Starting with heavy, thrashing music “Apathy”, takes the listener on an enthralling, mesmeric voyage with indifferent and detached lyrics delivered in a soporific, chanting vocal style adding perfectly to a sense of apathy and disinterest.  “No Big Deal” has an industrial sound with growling and threatening male vocals that loom and are on occasion lifted and reprieved by a lighter female vocal that adds maniacally to the sinister and foreboding journey the song takes the unsuspecting listener on.  With provocative and flamboyant vocals “Drugstore Keri” has raucous guitars that add to the swirling and narcotic feeling of a crescendoing high.  

 

From the suggestive EP cover to the individual tracks “Good Intentions” is a dark, wondrous musical adventure enticing the listener to hidden and murky places that are delightfully eerie and unnerving. 

Good Intentions is set for release on May 5th 2023

Links : 

Webpage : https://bellheadband.com/

Bandcamp : https://bellhead.bandcamp.com/album/good-intentions

 

 

 

 

BELLHEAD

Always attracted to songs with a big bass, Ivan of the Post Punk Chicago based band BELLHEAD has endeavoured to make his bass as interesting live as on a recording.  “I incorporate various pedals for dramatic effect” he explains.  Striving to write original songs that have never been heard before, Ivan makes the quirky admission that “To my knowledge we are the only band to rhyme Necromancer with Topless Dancer.”

Having been friends for quite awhile, Karen the second member of the BELLHEAD duo describes how the pair actually played in the same band but at different times for awhile.  Due to what Karen describes as a “series of unfortunate events” the pair ended up being bandless at the same time.  “So during a Chicago blizzard, we got really drunk, passed out to “To Wong Foo, Thanks For Everything Julie Newmar”, and when we woke up we decided to form a band.” Karen explains. For Karen her greatest musical influence is David Bowie who she describes as number one and “without him there wouldn’t be me.”

When asked about the bands unique name BELLHEAD, the duo quips “As for BELLHEAD Duran Duran was already taken, so that was the next best thing.”

 The duos creative process starts out small as what Ivan describes as “a bar of soap”.  He goes on to say “Sometimes Karen sends me a bass line and I get it up on trucks and show it to her.  Other times I take a riff I liked from sound check and build it out for Karen to review.”  From this point the duo rehearse and add intros and outros, structuring breaks before Ivan finalizes drums and any production such as piano or atmospheric sounds if the song requires it.

 Lyrics are the final part of the creative process for BELLHEAD and they are created using what Ivan describes as “scribbles” he feels fit the mood of the song.  Ivan believes that “if you listen closely to a song it will tell you the words.”  Once the lyrics are complete the duo rehearse the song extensively. Ivan explains this may result in “a couple of words will get changed, a bass sound will get polished, sometimes we find a section needs to repeat or be shortened.”  Ivan says “I would wager all our songs take around the same amount of time to write as it’s a process of living with the song and seeing how excited it makes us.”  Any song that the duo loses enthusiasm for is binned because the band agrees that “You can fake a lot of things but you can’t fake enthusiasm.” Songs that make it through this creative process are the songs that the band truly enjoy and have genuine enthusiasm for. 

 Both of the BELLHEAD duo are heavily involved in the band aesthetic with complete involvement in everything including details such as what brand of shirt they should print merchandise on. Karen illustrates that “We really make sure we have a strong aesthetic and brand that note only we enjoy, but all of the fans do as well.”

When asked about live performances Karen declares that “I would be happy on a stage the rest of my life over being in a studio recording.” Placing high importance on their fans Bellhead talk and listen to their fans and as part of this interaction Karen mentions “ Before and after every single shown you will find me at the Merch Booth because it’s important for me to engage everyone.  It doesn’t matter how exhausted I am after performing on stage I’m there meeting everyone.” 

“I’d like to be the first band  that plays on the moon” Karen states when describing where the duo see  Bellheadheading in the future.

 For new listeners to the band, Bellhead would like people to know “we make crazy sounds with two basses, and we will take you on a dark and exciting musical adventure.”  The band have fun on stage and enjoy fans joining in on the fun.  They also promise that “We’re going to sing about some intense stuff like serial killers and snuff films but after you see us the next day you’re going to be humming our songs in your head.”

 

Links :

Webpage: https://bellheadband.com/

Spotify : https://open.spotify.com/artist/2kG1HBhqba49nSNiN92pVg?si=2JlMzodjQf2E-sTOrI9QMA&dd=1

Bandcamp : https://bellhead.bandcamp.com/

YouTube : https://youtube.com/@bellhead3250

The Bellwether Syndicate

Former member of influential goth acts Christian Death, Mephisto Waltz, Shadow Project and most recently co-founder of Faith and the Muse, William Faith and Sarah Rose Faith, known also as DJ Scary Lady Sarah, DJ and club promoter, are the primary members of the Dark Alternative, Post Punk, Glam Noir band The Bellwether Syndicate. 

William and Sarah were both attracted to music at an early age.  William explains “Like many people my age, I first encountered the band KISS at the age of nine, and that was “my” music obsession.” After attending a KISS concert at the age of ten William decided that music would be his life endeavour. Sarah’s journey began at home where she says “Music has been a constant in my life since my earliest memories.  There were always records playing in our home.” Sarah cites lots of sixties Rock and Folk music, including performers such as Donovan, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Arlo Guthrie, Pete Seeger, Buffy Sainte-Marie and Peter Paul and Mary.  Sarah describes herself as never having stopped being an “avid listener and fan, especially to guitar driven rock-based music.”

Following the demise of William’s former band Faith and the Muse he was keen to get back to playing Rock and Roll.  Sarah was interested in the same idea as well as learning the guitar with William and so The Bellwether Syndicate was formed.  Although studio recordings are completed by the duo the band’s live line up includes some extra members, namely Corey Gorey on bass, Philly Peroxide on keyboard and percussion and Stevyn Grey on drums.

 When approaching songwriter William explains that for him “Inspiration comes from so many different directions that there is no set formula or pattern” to the way that the duo write.  He says that “Life hands you all manner of bizarre and unique situations and circumstances, and they come to bear in our expression.” William believes that the themes and messages of the songs created by The Bellwether Syndicate are “vast and varied”.  Sarah illustrates that she initially thought that their music would be politically charged and although much of their music is she also clarifies that “there are some very personal and introspective songs which have emerged.”

 With a broad palette of influences ranging  from The Stooges, The New York Dolls, The Damned, Generation X. Killing Joe and The Chameleons, William also mentions that their music is influenced by “the lingering flavours of the bands I’ve been in.  Its all woven into what we do.” For Sarah, Cocteau Twins , New Model Army and Love and Rockets also add to sources of inspiration.  Sarah goes on to say “These are bands whose innovations have inspired me most, but there are so many more.”

 When explaining the aesthetic of the band Sarah conveys  that “William and I both appreciate when a band whose music we love also have a “look”.  I think that can enhance the experience of seeing a band perform live.” She acknowledges that The Bellwether Syndicate had a very clear idea about the aesthetic they wanted for the band and Sarah and William decided together on the style and imagery the band would adopt.  Sarah believes that the importance of a well-crafted band aesthetic helps to “give a brand more coherence and something with which fans can connect, a more well-rounded identity”

 For William live performances are “everything” and are in fact why he loves being a musician.  He eloquently describes it as “the exchange of energy, the connection with the audience, the adrenaline of communicating our songs onstage is absolutely intoxicating, and its what I live for.”  Sarah conveys that “performing live is absolutely the best part of being in a band as far as I’m concerned.” She says this is evidenced by her “not being able to stop smiling while on stage.”

 In terms of engaging with their fans and building a connection with their audiences Sarah explains that connecting with fans is second nature for her. As a DJ Sarah says “I’ve always made myself very accessible to the patrons of the club events at which I DJ.” Knowing how important it is to make an audience feel appreciated and welcomed The Bellwether Syndicate mentions that “We talk with fans after (and usually before) every live show we play, we never turn down a request for a selfie, we try to reply to all comments on our social media page.” Recognizing the importance of a supportive audience The Bellwether Syndicate also encourage the audience to join with singing and shouting during the performance of certain songs.

In terms of the direction and the future path of The Bellwether Syndicate, William says “Its anyone’s guess, as we don’t force our sound or make any effort to fit into genre standards; we go where the music takes us.”

For newcomers to the music of The Bellwether Syndicate the band believes that their music is for you “If you’re looking for something honest, visceral and passionate” and also enjoy “a really fun band experience.”

Links :

Website : https://thebellwethersyndicate.com/home

Instagram: https://instagram.com/thebellwethersyndicate?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/139059342837170/

YouTube: https://youtube.com/@BellwetherSyndicate

Twitter : https://twitter.com/bellwethersyn?s=21&t=R67nGybeR7PvfYeCVVY-Aw

 

Josef Saint of Nahja Mora’s Exclusive Playlist for Melodic Machinations

 

Come and listen to Josef Saint, from Nahja Mora’s exclusive playlist for Melodic Machinations !

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6x226wAaSfw66csIlomNQt?si=q26b8kkpRBOJeR0hOojh7w&dd=1

Two Witches Are Better Than One by Metamorph and SPANKTHENUN

 Two Witches Are Better Than One is the magnificent synergy we all didn’t know we needed.  The remix of witchy singer and flautist Margot Day and her daughter Julifer Day’s  two tracks “Kiss of the Witch” and “Witchlit” by Electro Post Punk Industrial act SPANKTHENUN are a revelation.  The two tracks have been transformed into exciting and energizing  dance tracks while still staying true to the goth and witchy magic of the original tracks.

“Kiss of the Witch” takes on a mesmerizing beat with fabulous vocals and an atmospheric industrialized  dance beat.   “Witchlit”maintains its brooding gothic sound with mysterious and dreamlike vocals floating through a rebellious energetic beat.  

 

Two Witches are Better Than One is an alluring transfiguration created through an unlikely symbiosis. Like an ethereal tug-of -war Metamorph and SPANKTHENUN have come together to create a sublime and new synergistic reaction.  

Links :

Spotify : https://open.spotify.com/album/0Bd4M1NijbDRdFereAhupj?si=39vIFTu9QlO4ltnxSZsFlw&dd=1

YouTube : https://youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_mpGJWxDkbvQT3U7iXruFsRjGwBTCU8c2c

Bandcamp Metamorph : https://margotday.bandcamp.com/album/two-witches-are-better-than-one

Bandcamp SPANKTHENUN: https://spankthenun.bandcamp.com/

Nahja Mora’s Inside Out

 

Creating an unsettling and disturbing sense of disjointed fracture the Prelude on Nahja Mora’s new  EP Inside Out, hints presciently at things to come.  “Inside Out”, the title track of the EP, has a static endowed, rhythmic industrial sound with interference and disembodied, distorted voices and sound bytes from forensic psychologist Dr Park Dietz, haunting the dystopic soundscape.  Beginning with the calming but misleading  sounds of rain interspersed with an intermittent beep as well as a taunting and mimicking jazzy sound  “Final Hours” is abruptly interrupted by  distressing, disconcerting  media samples.  “Message Sent” propels the listener into a deep space void with an ascending, intrusive slow pulsing beat that creates a liminal feel to the track.  Frantic and with a with a jarring cacophony of sound, “Hate the Police”  is punctuated by frightening and pleading vocals.  “American Anthem” samples repetitive sounds of screaming with a frenetic and vibrating undertow and unsettling, reverberating vocals. 

 

Josef Saint and Nahja Mora’s  EP Inside Out is a rambunctious and powerful denunciation of the media and inadequate leadership and the violence, homelessness, crime and despair they help to incite.  The EP is a compelling reverie of some of the biggest challenges faced by humankind and the role that the media and disengaged and self-motivated leadership plays in evoking and enabling such miseries.  

Links : 

Bandcamp : https://nahjamora.bandcamp.com/album/inside-out-ep

YouTube : https://youtu.be/XKDNh6PiJs8

Playlist by Sigmund Vandrer from Inner Missing

Sigmund Vandrer from the band Inner Missing has created an exclusive playlist for Melodic Machinations and you can listen to it here -

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0CehYheLWFkdfDkvJn6COf?si=O6akni0OTWeF--g8OznEig&dd=1