EAST RODEO



It seems that I have another Croatian / Italian contestant on my line-up and they are something truly special. Core members are brothers Alen and Nenad Sinkauz from Pula, Croatia on guitars with Alfonso Santimone on keyboards / live electronics / programing / piano and Federico Scettri on drums from Italy.

There are absolutely no boundaries in their music and there is definitely a big element of experimentation present - from electronica to post-rock, from jazzy themes to (almost) punk, from ambient instrumentals to progressive noise.
Not easy to listen to they are very demanding but also rewarding if you figure it out in the end.

Nenad is singing in Croatian, Italian and English. Alen and Federico are providing killer avantgarde rhythm combo and Alfonso fits perfectly into and with everything he creates.

My first introduciton to them was in 2011 at &TD concert and I can tell you it was excellent as well as unusual experience. To some they may seem a bit pretentious but it's pure creative bliss if you ask me...


One of their early concerts, I stumbled upon it accidentaly today:

Terraneo festival:

Most recent incarnation is functioning as a septet with added brass section for even more options of noise:

 

STARBENDERS - definitely my best new band



Found them accidentaly during random playlist on SoundCloud. First single "Touch" immediately caught my attention. They are described as Punk n' roll and I would say that is correct (if any categorization is needed) but with a twist.

https://soundcloud.com/starbenders/starbenders-punx-ded

What is special about them you ask? Well let me tell you... In a time of meaningless beats, melodies and shooting stars that dominate the charts one should definitely embrace and hold on to bands like Starbenders. Their songs radiate with immediate sincerity and head-on approach. Nothing is hidden and everything's transparent when Kimi Shelter and her gang start poundin' and choppin' with guitars and rhythm section. They throw at you lines like: "Punks dead but I'm not dead, bring me Johnny Rotten's head..."

I mean listen to the lyrics...have you ever heard something raw like this? When was the last time...? Starbenders are fresh and they keep it interesting.
"Alter Boy", "PunX dEd" and "Enchantment..." are also my favourites.:

With recent song "Powder" their sound is starting to take a new turn...
I strongly recommend them, future is unpredictable and I like what I see.
Check them out, you won't regret it!


https://soundcloud.com/starbenders

Kundyak Mezhie
Split, Croatia

It's time for a Croatian band at last!

In my not so humble opinion, one of the best Croatian bands in recent decade.
They still don't have an official studio album although they exist almost 10 years. Today's lineup is making music since 2009. They have released one live album which sounds and feels like a studio one:

https://soundcloud.com/kundyakmezhie/sets/kundyak-mezhie


I discovered them mostly by accident over the Internet around 2010. While I was carefully listening to the songs I immediately heard there was something really special going on here. Their playing is very natural and organic.
Rhythm section is tight and groovy while two guitars are combined to give wonderful melodic lines. Lead singer Branko also functions as a lead guitar for the most part and this is also one interesting aspect of Kundyak.

I would definitely decribe their sound as vintage influenced if not totally vintage. This is mainly so because of Branko's voice color and style.
When we combine his singing with original instrumental ideas we get Kundyak.
Their songs are usually around 6-7 minutes long and should be no reason for concern so just relax and enjoy...


From their YouTube channel - "Politican (live)"

Most recent live show:

https://www.facebook.com/kundyakmezhie

Our second contestant:


GUTBUCKET - New York, USA



Saw these guys live for the first time in 2002 I think, it was in my hometown of Zagreb, Croatia. That was also the first time I ever heard of them.
Little did I know they will become one of my favorite bands ever...
13 years and 6 concerts later (5 in Zagreb and 1 in Ljubljana, Slovenia) they are still at the top of my list.

In their core I guess we could call them "a jazz band" but (free) jazz is only the beginning of things to come. Their music incorporates so many different styles it defies normal categorization. We could call it punk, klezmer, avantgarde, prog-rock, psychedelia, bossa nova, experimental, post-rock...call it what you will, quality is what counts!

First album "InsomniacsDream" is a somewhat tame beginning but still an optimistic announcement of interesting future:

They play without PA (one could say acoustically) but there is still enormous amount of noise comin' towards you. Their shows are energetic and spontaneous, especially when we talk about "frontman" sax player Ken Thomson. Oldest of the bunch is also the most active one on stage. Every member of Gutbucket could actually be considered a frontman since everybody plays as if their lives depend on it.

Members are aforementioned Ken Thomson - sax
Eric Rockwin (recently replaced by Pat Swoboda) on upright electric bass
Paul Chuffo (replaced by Adam Gold) - both great drummers
Ty Citerman - electric guitar and effects, with Ken shares most of writing duties

Furthermore, their level of technical skill and synchronicitiy is uncanny while they perform such complex pieces of music. My favorite things about their songs are when they enter polyrhythmia and usage of catchy themes no matter the style of the song:

Second album "Dry Humping..." has brought things on totally new level as in their case usually each next album did:

I hear a constant change as they strive to achieve something new and different:

Most recent album "Flock" has gone even more beserk and complex while we wait for new monster to be born...:)


One of their last shows in Zagreb, you can actually hear me requesting "Snarling Wrath of Angry Gods" from the audience:

Longer version - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ME7a9C2zNhM


As Ken Thomson once said: "Zagreb is probably the only place where people headbang to Gutbucket...".


http://gutweb.com/

Hello everybody, let me begin my little odyssey.

My intention is to write about what I find quality music and interest at least some of you into listening it. Most of the artists I like are established bands but some of them are long disbanded or not well known. They must never be forgotten.

As much as I like standalone songs I even more like entire albums since that was how I preferred to listen music. So that will be my main focus although in some cases I will give an example of individual songs.

From time to time you will have to excuse my poor english so I apologise upfront.
I shall now begin with my first contestant:


GAVIN CLARK


Recently deceased and beloved almost unknown singer from England.
Started his career in a band Sunhouse - they recorded one album and split before it was released. Year was 1998, album is long out of print by now. Luckily I still own a copy.
After that he formed Clayhill and in recent years did solo work and some collaboration with Unkle.

Shane Meadows did a short documentary of his life:

"Crazy on the weekend" by Sunhouse - one of the most underrated and probably unknown albums to date. This is in my opinion also one of the best debut albums ever. I sincerely recommend it to everyone. It has gorgeous songs, perfectly balanced sound + arrangements and of course Gavin's haunting voice.

There is this everpresent melancholy and almost pain like texture that I hear when I listen to him. Definitely reminiscent of Nick Drake but in a world of its own.
Best thing to do is to just listen and enjoy.

My favorites:

Sunhouse - Spinning Round The Sun / Hard Sun

Clayhill - One Nerve / Afterlight

Solo album - Beautiful Skeletons

http://www.rdio.com/artist/Gavin_Clark/album/Beautiful_Skeletons/track/Spinning_Round_the_Sun/?apSource=t59632224



R.I.P. Gavin, we love you forever...