France

[Music] Alexis Evans – I Made A Deal With Myself

/ Rudy Carrera / Leave a comment


The Anglo-French singer and guitarist Alexis Evans must have had one hell of a good soul and R&B collection growing up, because he sounds like he studied under the masters.

The last 5 years have been amazing for neo-soul music, especially with the likes of Sharon Jones (RIP) and the Dap-Kings, The James Hunter Six and Charles Bradley, and to thing that Bordeaux, France had such a scene is almost mind-boggling, but this track, from Alexis’ upcoming album, I’ve Come A Long Way, is a barn-burner!

Expect to see a lot more soul reviewed here!

[Music] H. J. Ayala – Atmospheres

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H. J. Ayala has been featured here before, providing some mightily atmospheric guitar playing. His current release has to be his darkest yet, however. The entrance to the album (appropriately titled “Entrada“) feels like the beginning of a horror movie with a proper budget. The tension is palpable.

It gets deeper in feel from then on.  The whole of this album was made on guitars only, with effects being added after the recording.  In fact, all the sounds come from the guitar in it self and the place where the microphone was settled.

Eerie listening, but very rewarding.

[Music] A.M Ferrari Fradejas – Dominique Worships The Sun

/ Rudy Carrera / Leave a comment

A.M Ferrari Fradejas is a composer based in France who also happens to be the wife of noted guitarist and composer Santiago Frajedas, whose amazing work has graced these pages in the past.  Ferreri Frajedas’ new release is an absolute delight to listen to, and it came as a shock to my ears.

I was expecting progressive rock, and I was rewarded with that in spades.  What I didn’t expect to find was a deep thread of ethereal music, some of which reminded me of past bands like Chandeen or Love Is Colder Than Death.  There is also a touch of cabaret music here, as well as reminisces of groups like Slapp Happy, Henry Cow and Dagmar Krause’s solo work. Fans of Laurie Anderson might find something familiar here as well.

It was weird, hazy, and utterly fun listening for me.