LIVEEVIL - "Unique Constellation" CD Review (Crystal Productions)

LIVEEVIL is a Czech electro-metal band and the band's second disc, Unique Constellation, came out toward the end of 2009. This disc is a refreshing change of pace from some of the pummel-and-growl death metal discs that I've received recently as Unique Constellation has a number of memorable songs, with melodic hooks that stick with you after listening.

The band's sound relies heavily on prominent, swirling keyboards and clean, chugging guitar riffs. The band's music falls somewhere between Type O Negative and The Genitorturers but there is also a bit of 80's British synth-pop thrown in the mix. On the goth-rock songs, vocalist Petr's "Peter Steele"-style vocals are high in the mix and become one of the focal points of the song. On other songs, Petr uses a more 'mainstream' vocal style which could be compared to what Jim Kerr (Simple Minds) might sound like after too much cigarettes and whiskey. There are also a couple songs ("Resistance") where the focus is on darkwave dance grooves and the vocals are pushed down in the mix. The disc contains nine originals and covers of Duffy's "Mercy" and Mew's "Snow Brigade". I'm not familiar with the original versions of either of these songs so I can't offer much commentary. The Duffy cover is a bit too pop for my taste but Mew cover seems to fit right in with LIVEEVIL's originals.

Where too many bands are going for shear brutality, LIVEEVIL are a refreshing change of pace and Unique Constellation merits repeat listening.

The leadoff track from the disc, "Monster World" (video below), is indicative of the band's strengths.



Links:
LIVEEVIL

Viper Creek Club Plays CMJ Showcase at Le Poisson Rouge on Oct. 23rd

DOWNLOAD: Viper Creek Club - "Eliza"

Seattle electro-pop duo Viper Creek Club are playing the AM Only & Famous Friends CMJ Showcase at Le Poisson Rouge on Saturday, Oct. 23rd.

Viper Creek Club is the joint effort of Seattleites Mat Wisner and Brandon Jensen. The band released their debut full-length Letters in August and Redefine Magazine described the disc as an "array of synths and an endless cache of ideas...[that is] solid...from beginning to end".

Letters is an electronica laden-pop journey that will get the dance floor moving. The album splices a savy production knack with organic percussion and piano, making it both deliberate and natural at the same time. VCC’s beats are carefully constructed and synth-focused, building a fresh sound and energy in the music. The album consists of eleven original songs written by members Wisner and Jensen and is heavily influenced by euro pop music and other genres such as hip hop. Wisner provides vocals, keys, beats, and loops, while Jensen plays guitar. Song content is influenced by everything from murder mysteries to lust gone wrong.



Links:
Viper Creek Club

Jazz/Electronica Project J.Viewz Plays the Blue Note on Nov. 6th

Israeli producer Jonathan Dagan's award winning electronica project J.Viewz will perform a late set at the Blue Note Jazz Club in New York City this Friday night. The live outfit of J.Viewz, featuring lead vocalist Noa Lembersky & MC Urijah, has a unique combination of vocals, electronic beats, live drums and turntables, flowing from Breakbeat to Jazz, Electro and Reggae. They take the stage at 12:30am on Friday, November 6, 2009.

Based in Brooklyn, J.Viewz is a multi-genre, multi-media music project with revolving band members. Electronic-music producer Jonathan Dagan first formed the group in 2002, and has since produced two albums under J.Viewz: Muse Breaks (2005) and The Besides EP (2008). The project’s first single “Your Country” off Muse Breaks entered several music charts abroad (including DJ Mag's hype chart, the Ministry of Sound's radio chart and the DMC UPDATE Chart) and hit several international radio stations, including Kiss 100 FM, Ministry of Sound radio, and Radio One.

The current J.Viewz single, from The Besides EP, is a jazz cover of Michael Jackson’s “Smooth Criminal”.



The single was included on the playlists for U105 (Ireland) and KISS FM (UK) and was an A-List song on Jazz FM (UK). It also earned a coveted spot on the recent cover compilation by the Tru Thoughts label (Tru Thoughts Covers). Impose Magazine calls this J.Viewz cover “the show stopper of the bunch,” and says “this cathartic version is as original and memorable as the performer who left us far too soon.”

J.Viewz Live (the “live” division of the project) currently includes the following five musicians:
Jonathan Dagan, production/computers/turntables
Noa Lembersky, vocals
Urijah, vocals & guitar
Eran Asias, drums
Daniel Koren, keys

Links:
J.Viewz' MySpace Profile

Stephanie Schneiderman: Pre-Show Interview with Stephanie and Keith Schreiner, NYC 4-29-09

Portland singer/songwriter Stephanie Schneiderman was in town at the end of April for a show at the Living Room. I caught up with Stephanie and her new collaborator/producer Keith Schreiner before the show to talk about her new disc Dangerous Fruit.

Dangerous Fruit is Stephanie's sixth solo disc and it combines Stephanie's intricate songwriting with trip-hop producer Keith Schreiner's electronica and trip-hop beats. This release moves Stephanie out of the traditional singer/songwriter camp as the duo's combined sound is comparable to Portishead or Beth Orton.



For anyone who hasn't seen Stephanie play, here is a live version of the title track, "Dangerous Fruit", from the new CD.



Stephanie is back on the West Coast and here are her upcoming tour dates:
May 15, 2009, 8:00PM, Bagdad Theater - Wonder Quest Gala, Portland, Oregon
May 16, 2009, 9:00PM, High Dive Seattle - Seattle Show w/ Carrie Akre and Andrea Witgens, Seattle, Washington
June 03, 2009, 7:00PM, Old St. Francis Hotel - McMenamin’s Great Northwest Music Tour, Bend, Oregon
June 04, 2009, 7:00PM, Edgefield - McMenamin’s Great Northwest Music Tour, Troutdale, Oregon
June 06, 2009, 7:00PM, Hotel Oregon - McMenamin’s Great Northwest Music Tour, McMinville, Oregon
June 09, 2009, 7:00PM, Olympic Club Hotel - McMenamin’s Great Northwest Music Tour, Centralia, Washington
June 10, 2009, 8:00PM, Kennedy School - McMenamin’s Great Northwest Music Tour, Portland, Oregon

Links:
Stephanie Schneiderman's Website

Woodhands - Live Footage and Interview from Silent Barn, Queens 8-16-08

Woodhands was in town last weekend for one of Todd P's shows at the Silent Barn. The band's debut disc, "Heart Attack", was released in Canada earlier this year (on Paper Bag Records) and the disc was released in the States yesterday.

Here is part of a live clip of "Can't See Straight" along with a post-show interview with the band.



The band puts on a wild live show and they say on their MySpace page that their goal is "emotional, sweaty dance floors". The band is back in the States for a show in Chicago at The Empty Bottle on September 5th but no East Coast dates have been announced.

For anyone not familiar with Woodhands, check out I Wasn't Made for Fighting. There are also a number of other tracks from Heart Attack streaming on the band's MySpace profile.

During the interview, Dan mentioned that the band was just in NYC to film a video for the "I Wasn't Made For Fighting" and the band just posted a link to a fan-made video for the song.



Links:
Paper Bag Records