King Of The Opera 'Nothing Outstanding' Reviewed

Samuel Katarro introduces a musical project by the name of King Of The Opera. The Tuscan musician, better known as Alberto Mariotti, brings you ‘Nothing Outstanding.’ The album released less than a year ago, and even though I’m a little late on this one, I’m fortunate enough to get my hands on the album.

A collaboration of eight tracks beautifully blending in with each other. The title is well constructed, introducing a combination of genres including indie / soft rock, with a hint of psych-folk. The opening track ‘Fabriciborio’ welcomes you with the sweet sound of the guitar in soft loops, while the heart of the song is the drums. The track features a mellow sound that takes you through a field of emotions. A few seconds of soft but silent sounds creates a build up of emotions. While listening to ‘Nothing Outstanding’ you seem to get a sense of comfort / closure. Maybe it’s just me, but it’s a breath of fresh air to listen to a collection of tracks that are in sync with each other.

King Of The Opera has a solid reference to Jeff Buckley, not to mention other artists such as John Martin and Steven Wilson. ‘Worried about’ portrays one’s anxiety of a situation, most likely associated with love and matters of the heart. The lyrics portray an overwhelming fear of the unknown, while track has an upbeat rhythm. This contrast could very well suggest a sense of relief at the same time – as if to say, “When you worry, you care!”

No matter how conventional King Of The Opera may sound, the band still manages to deliver a unique sound. Taking this into consideration, alongside the other things mentioned earlier. I would have to say ‘Fabriciborio’ and ‘GD’ are two tracks featured on the album that really stood out to me. ‘GD’ really tries to reach out with its music.

You can’t help but put that track on replay countless times. It leaves you wanting to search for deep meaning. It feels like the more you listen, the more the acoustic guitar encourages you to take an extended journey of self discovery, and leads you to an uncharted territory. I loved it so much I tweeted about it!

If you’re eager to take a journey of self-discovery, join me with King Of The Opera. I can’t leave without saying; the album title ‘Nothing Outstanding’ is truly underestimated!

unePassante 'No Drama' Reviewed

unePassante, the Italian trio presents ‘No Drama‘. Three years after their debut album More Than One In Number (2010). ‘No Drama’ is expected to release in April. unePassante introduce a completely different outlook in comparison to their last release. Going from jazz / folk and rock to experimenting with electro-pop. This three-year time period had some importance.

Coming to you with a collection of ten tracks, this new album definitely has something to say for itself. The opening track, ‘Utterly Wrong’ is made up of an electro-funk bass luring the listener deep into the song. It certainly represents the genre. Starting with slow-paced vocals demonstrating a sense of illusion / hypnotic. Suddenly the track’s pace changes, a revved up rhythm, enough riffs to make anyone feel dizzy. unePassante carries a slight resemblance to Depeche Mode. A British band originally formulated in 1980. As it has similar pattern as far as the music is concerned; bombarded with crazy riffs and hypnotic sounds. Aside from Depeche Mode, there are others are to compare against such as Soft Cell.

There seems to be an on-going pattern of a mellow introduction driving into a fast-paced sound of an acoustic guitar and piano. ‘Seasaw’ is decorated with acoustic guitar riffs, which introduce a ‘groovy’ outlook. The outlook is bright and fresh, it would turn any frown into a smile. Aside from this, the lyrics welcome its audience with open arms “Come take a ride on my ever swinging seesaw!” It suggests a portrayal of on-going emotions and experiences faced throughout the year. When you listen to ‘No Drama’, at times it feels like you’re bouncing in the club. ‘Extinction’ is a build up, with riffs repeated to build up the anticipation. However, ‘Extinction’ seems to play with the mind, purely because it changes. It becomes something else leading listeners to believe “looks can be deceiving. What started out as a club banger turns into an illusion, leaving you, the listener totally hypnotized by the music.

My personal favorite track of ‘No Drama’ has to be ‘XMAN’. The introduction is nicely harmonized with the acoustic guitar. It pulls you into the track, encouraging the listener to pay attention as the track goes through a variety of contrast sounds. The change is apparent when the drums and electronic riffs come in. Another favorite is the bonus track ‘Oh My Monster’. ‘Oh My Monster’ portrays a woman’s struggles with love, life, curiosity, fear, and ambition. Life’s struggles fade away when one is comforted once in the arms of their love interest.

unePassante’s ‘No Drama’ explores with music, bringing you upbeat and at times mellow harmonies to relate to its listeners. If you’re one of those people who are looking to explore a different taste and insight on music, then this is for you!

Blue Willa Reviewed!

Blue Willa, a four-piece band coming to you all the way from Tuscany, Italy certainly presents a roller coaster ride of events. The quartet released their self-titled, debut album earlier this year. Blue Willa delivers a unique sound with lyrics that create a definite opinionated voice.

The opening track, ‘Eyes Attention’, leaves a strong impression behind.  I associated the style and sound of this track with a soundtrack to a horror movie. The chant to Freddie Kruger came to mind. You know the one. “1-2, Freddie’s coming for you…” you get the picture! It has that vibe, that presence.

The introduction sets the scene.  Accompanied by high-pitched vocals, ‘Eyes Attention’, also conveys an air of schizophrenia, a collection of noises and voices that one has gathered. It’s fair to say the lyrics show no sign of this, but the music alone paints that picture. At times, the songs paint a picture on a blank canvas, using a palette of sombre colours. Blue Willa is a fine example of psychedelic rock.  A genre that emerged and progressed throughout the mid 60s, offering musicians the chance to showcase material written from a totally different perspective, disregarding the conventional song writing formula.

Listening to Blue Willa for the first time, it might come as a bit of a surprise for the average consumer or music lover. There seems to be a pattern occurring with Blue Willa, it seems as though the vocals sound slower than they should be, like they’ve been deliberately altered to illustrate a sense of confusion. This is apparent in nearly all tracks on the album. I would compare the band to the likes of Pink Floyd, (once known as psychedelic), Greatful dead, and Can, at times. 

We can start to see a resemblance, particularly in Pink Floyd’s ‘Astronomy Domaine’. The high-pitched and slowed down vocals accompanied with electric guitar riffs.  The self-titled debut album consists of ten tracks introducing music with a difference. (I know, I mentioned this earlier but bear with me here). Tracks like ‘Fishes’ convey a strong presence, with the hard-hitting drums accompanied by the even stronger presence of the electric guitar. 

Playing in riffs during the introduction of the track, suddenly, everything changes. The riffs become what seem to be traces of melodic instances, however, it’s Serena Alessandra Altavilla (vocalist), who leaves a strong presence in this song, displaying her emotions at full pelt, with no signs of holding back. There are other instances of spontaneity with Blue Willa normally occurring towards the end of a track. Tambourines sounding like a chant, and the riff of the strings coming in to create the atmosphere and then boom! – The guitars come in and say hello.

Blue Willa portrays a contrast of atmosphere, emotions, and sense of self. Take a ride on a musical roller coaster and experience the spontaneity of the guitar with heavy-hitting drums.

I suggest you look no further than Blue Willa!

Connect & Collaborate Across London Event at Shape Arts

In association with Drake Music and Shape Arts, visual / sound artist, producer, and filmmaker Ivan Riches presents Connect & Collaborate Across London, an event that brings music and technology together.

Assistive Music Technology (AMT), provides an industry that’s already competitive as it is, with endless opportunities for disabled musicians.

Together with Drake Music, disabled musicians can step into the spotlight while the skeptics witness and experience a brand new perspective on disability.

 Mik Scarlett, a disabled musician and the chair for this meeting has definitely passed his aspiration date, joining his first band ‘Outer Limits’ at 14 playing the keyboard. With years of musical experience proudly behind him, his passion for music is still alive, just as determined.

 There were a fair few bands in the mid 80s / early 90s that had disabled members. Bands like ‘Astrid, Freak UK, and Wild Style’ and Ian Dury and The Blockheads had disabled musicians who didn’t want to be known for their disability but for their music. It was a movement, it was mainstream, but, as Mik pointed out, just when you’re doing great and playing gig after gig, the marketing department of record companies were quick to reject bands with amazing talent. What was their excuse?  “How are we going to sell a wheelchair?”

Ladies and gentlemen, once again we have faced another barrier. This was and still is, one of the most disturbing reoccurrences that disabled people have to face on a daily basis.

Connect & Collaborate London reinforced what musicians can do with today’s amazing technology. The event included three in depth presentations on Assistive Music Technology (AMT). These were as follows; Apolo, iPad and Makey Makey.

Drake Music really opens a blind eye, proving that you can break down disabling barriers to music. With the use of iPads and its multi touch functionality, a sound is easily generated with one tap mechanism. The extraordinary Makey Makey, demonstrated by Associate musician / Associate national manager in research and development Gawain Hewitt. Using the human body as an instrument) and Apolo’s just as impressive one touch switch system that makes music.

On a personal level, I saw music with such a big horizon it amazed me! It’s such a breath of fresh air to know that people with disabilities no longer have to feel like the odd one out / isolated from their passion. Associate musician Gary Day’s demo of music apps for iOS really emphasized that there is something for everyone in all shapes and sizes. Garageband, Thumb Jam, Borderlandz, and other apps suggested it was only the beginning of a beautiful and bright musical future. These technologies could really pave the way for up and coming ideas.  I really do think this could open a whole new genre of performance arts in itself. Uniting as one - disabled artists with non-disabled ones.

The day concluded with an open discussion dealing with overcoming the day-to-day barriers disabled musicians come across. You could sense a change is going to take place. Expanding on the Connect & Collaborate London section of the Drake Music website. Possible developments include artist profiles, which will allow musicians to showcase their material and individual skills. This means artists may be able to collaborate and skill-swap on new and exciting projects in the future. With a view to monthly or bimonthly basis, meetings / drop in sessions taking place, in order to facilitate artists with problems that may occur. Furthermore, suggesting ideas that will benefit one another. In addition, users can participate and communicate with each other using forums / discussion panel. Here, users can express their views / opinions on difficulties in embracing their ultimate career goal. It will of course be heavily music oriented, and focus on specific areas within music such as genre, e.g. how we combine AMT with folk / jazz etc. without it sounding the same. Communication is the ultimate key. Aside from genre, the group also suggested combining AMT with other performing arts like dance, theatre and film using ‘Makey Makey’. Something as inspiring as this could start a brand new genre within performing arts. An idea such as this really stands out, and leaves a strong impression.

Throughout this event there was one statement that remained overpowering.  “Creativity over disability!” Creative minds always push through, no matter how big the barrier is. Disability will always take a back seat while creativity embraces the spotlight!