Various Artists - Raising Steam Volume I - 3 (Cd Review)

Various Artists – Raising Steam

Volume I

01. Miss Von Trapp - Have A Pie: Modern Mrs Lovett

02. Helicopter Quartet - Where Have All The Aliens Gone?

03. Thy Last Drop – Gravedigger

04. Birthrite - Loving You (Ain't So Easy)

05. The Mysterious Freakshow - Hedge Witch

06. Crimson Clocks – Red Violin

07. Montague Jacques Fromage - Merde! Mon Dieu! (Absinthe! Sacre Bleu!)

08. Gladstone – Night Creatures

09. Tom Slatter - Mother's Been Talking To Ghosts Again

10. Metropolis – Sirens

11. The Mechanisms - Riddle of the Sphinx

Volume II

01. The Dark Design - Haggard Rider

02. Gurdybird - Raggle Taggle Gypsy (video edit)

03. Venus de Vilo - It's My Party - I'll Die If I Want To!

04. Ague - Fifteen Leagues to Providence

05. Violent Sky - Frances (In the Gallery of Stars)

06. The Wattingers - Evil Driving Rain

07. Under A Banner – Steam

08. Ghostfire - Griminsky's Soul

09. BB BlackDog - Steam Punk Junkie

10. New Jacobin Club - Angel MMXVI

Volume III

01. Kiss Like Ether – End Game

02. Gordon Midgley - The Tell Tale Heart

03. Victor & the Bully - Every Fight Is A Food Fight For A Cannibal

04. Nathan Jon Tillett – Eternaeon

05. Heathen StrangeFellow & the VaudeVille Vagabonds – Masquerade

06. LM Cooke – Poor Jenny

07. The Filthy Spectacula - Flying Dutchman

08. Dark Sinfonia - A Murderous Breath 

09. Jessica Law - The Mermaid's Revenge

10. The Hare And The Moon - Come Unto The Corn

11. Napier's Bones - Hand of Glory

12. Feline & Strange - The City

13. Valentine Wolfe – Corvidae

14. Krankschaft - Come Fly With Us

15. Nathaniel Johnstone - Seven Veils

What we have here are three limited edition CD-R samplers of the Raising Steam download albums.

Each of these comes in a DVD box with a limited edition pin badge, only available through one of these purchases.

For your money you also get the code to get the entire downloadable versions through Bandcamp, giving you access to another ten or so songs per volume.

ALL monies raised go to the New Futures Nepal charity.

Now you may of course be wondering what the hell is Steampunk music?

The short answer is there is no such thing as steampunk music, not as a specific genre anyway.

What these samplers show is that anything is possible from classic rock to pop, dark and twisted gothic horror, folk music and even traditional British music hall.

So why is it called Steampunk? I hear you shout; my own opinion is that the “Alternative” approach allows for such freedom that many talented artists are simply drawn to something which is not locked down in a specific genre.

I would urge you to investigate if like me you have a wide variety of interests when it comes to music, perhaps the very name of Steampunk has made you avoid the music, something which to its shame the wider music press has been guilty of, thus failing to introduce their readers to some amazing classic rock music!

A few examples:

From Volume I, we have some horror tinged music hall comedy from Miss Von Trapp.  The Helicopter Quartet are clearly emulating one of Karlheinz Stockhausen many experimental compositions.

The track by Tom Slatter is quite stunning, a mix of light modern progressive rock with a vocal delivery that seems to mix David Byrne and Syd Barrett.

Finally Metropolis have a modern Hawkwind vibe with some Tubeway Army thrown in for good measure.

Up next a few from Volume II, how about Gurdybird who has mixed tribal drum rhythms with playing an actual hurdy gurdy!

Venus de Vilo brings a smile with her incredible dark and twisted mix of Nina Hagan and Alannis Morrisette.

A superb mix of seventies hard rock and proto doom Violent Sky are one of the stand outs here.

Ghostfire perform some fantastic female fronted acid folk, followed by some bass driven stoner rock from BB Blackdog.

Last one is New Jacobin Club, providing some folk tinged acoustic music with a very powerful vocal.

What does Volume III kick off with? Kiss Like Ether with some darkwave meets early industrial and perfectly mixed and delivered.

Up next is some weird space synth and then Gordon Midgley treats us to seven minutes of mesmerizing narration of Poe’s classic tale.

Dishing up some folk horror in the style of Marc Wilkinson (Blood On Satan’s Claw) and Magnet (The Wicker Man) comes The Hare & The Moon.

Valentine Wolfe are pure Symphonic Metal and keeping it heavy are Krankschaft (Hawkwind’s Robert Calvert former backing band) blending Amon Duul II with Hawklords.

Last up is Nathaniel Johnson whose take on folk rock is reminiscent of The Trees meeting All About Eve.

Well I have picked out a few, there really is much more on offer, almost every genre is represented here.

For more information, order details and a chance to preview the music go to the Raising Steam Bandcamp page.

Official Bandcamp Page

LM Cooke - Nursery Rhymes For The Apocalypse (Album Review)

01. Poor Jenny

02. Yellow Eyes

03. False Lamkin

04. First interlude: Summer Is A-Coming In

05. (We Stand) Behind You

06. Murder Song

07. I Know A Place

08. How Do I Know

09. Blackbird Pie

10. Second Interlude: Winter Is A-Coming In

11. Moon Song

12. The North Wind

13. Stormwatch

14. End of the World

LM Cooke (Vocals, Guitar, Bass, Violin, Strings, Keyboards, Synthesizer, Programming)

Guests

Jo Luckett (Oboe, Violin) On ‘Moon Song’

Steven C Davis (Additional Vocals) On ‘(We Stand) Behind You’ and ‘End of the World’

Say Folk Music to most people and they will instantly think of bearded men in Arran jumpers singing traditional songs about maidens, death and ships sailing from port never to return, with one finger in their ear and the other hand grasping a pint of some awful warm brown liquid that may have some vague resemblance to a drinkable ale.

But this style of music that originated in the 19^th century has also evolved into sub genres that include progressive rock and even some styles of extreme metal.

In the late 1960’s a style known as Acid-Folk emerged with bands such as Comus, Saturnalia and Dulcimer.

Over the last decade this style has found a new generation to mesmerize with artists as diverse as Galley Beggar, Circulus and Blood Ceremony.

So now we turn to LM Cooke, one time violinist/ main songwriter in Broadarrow Jack, then singer/ songwriter with the folk-rock band Crimson Clocks.

Not only a superb songwriter but a much respected author of dark fantasy/ science/ mythic fiction novels and short stories.

It now seems we must add multi talented instrumentalist, music producer, mixer and engineer, as she makes her solo debut.

While there are indeed songs of ships and traditional songs with new arrangements, there is a wealth of totally original songs with a dark and twisted edge that mixes the various sub genres of folk to include gothic, horror, psychedelic and acid in her own style.

We start with ‘Poor Jenny’ a ghost-ship song based on the story of the English schooner, the Jenny which in 1823 became frozen in an ice barrier complete with crew. This song was originally written when Miss Cooke was with Broadarrow Jack.

This updated and rearranged version has some haunting dual tracked vocals over a simple but highly atmospheric backing, the use of wind and water samples adds to the overall feel as if you were listening to it by the seashore.

Next up is ‘Yellow Eyes’ a song about a wolf, or is it I ask myself, “A wolf in your mind” as the lyric goes brings to mind a hint of Robert Calvert’s musical interpretation of Hesse’s ‘Steppenwolf’.

Imagine if early Bauhaus had a female vocalist, if you can then this would be the result, from its near proto industrial drum tracking to gothic guitar and echo vocals this one blasts through the speakers and then towards the end turns to pure acid folk. Stunning!

Time for a traditional murder ballad, ‘False Lamkin’, adapted from the version from Cambridgeshire collected by Cecil Sharp. The song is sometimes also known as False Lincoln or Long Lamkin, among other names, and verses vary depending on the version. You may know this if you are a fan of Steeleye Span, Shirley Collins or Fire+Ice.

Wow beautiful moody vocal over a harp like musical backing, traditional in its execution yet the clever production makes it modern.

The interlude I shall leave to one side at the moment and move on to ‘(We Stand) Behind You’. This is a dark and twisted nursery rhyme warning that not everyone is who they seem. It may start off almost upbeat, happy with cute sounding instruments but then as this song progresses it gets darker, twisted, nightmarish, the vocal tracking becomes more unbalanced and disturbed and the demonic laughs will make you look behind just to make sure there is nobody standing there.

Maybe it’s just me I don’t think that the ‘Murder Song’ is about crows, yes they are the lyrical theme but I sense a pagan witchcraft influence with a group of girls out to lure some poor soul before the crow king for sacrifice.

One that could be on the soundtrack of ‘Blood On Satan’s Claw’ or even an outtake from the Comus album ‘First Utterance’, traditional in delivery it maybe, but this has a catchy almost hypnotic vocal pattern and all in all creates a creepy horror folk mini epic.

Following on from ‘Yellow Eyes’ is ‘I Know A Place’ it continues that them of the inner wolf.

Showcasing an impressive vocal range and clever mixing and production this sounds like a choral quartet, dark harmonies flow through the speakers whilst the wolf listens intensely.

‘How Do I Know’ seems to be an anthem for the insecure, but there is also a hidden depth here, after all what if the crazy are really the sane ones? Is the reference to money really about money, the use of the “Pounds, Shillings and Pence’ in the lyric could be a nod back to the mid 1960’s where bands like the Pretty Things used the £sd to refer to LSD.

The basic drum pattern follows a similar rhythmic madness of the 1966 hit ‘They’re Coming To Take Me Away’ by Napoleon XIV. The vocals are mad, the samples are madder and to cap it all off there is a great “Dr Phibes” sounding organ.

‘Blackbird Pie’ is perhaps as you might expect a new take on the 18^th century nursery rhyme ‘Sing A Song Of Sixpence’. Miss Cooke has replaced the naughty boys or the more common blackbirds’ version and then added a beautiful element of plague and the black death! This is all wrapped up in a rather pretty little folk tune.

Another interlude, so perhaps I shall take a moment here and return to the first.

Thing is ‘Summer Is A Coming In’ at just under fifty five seconds and ‘Winter Is A Coming In’ at just over one minute, for me don’t work as separate pieces, I can’t help but feel that the opportunity to create one entire song with the other two seasons added would have worked better with the overall concept of the album being full songs.

Either that or the fact that both pieces have the same rhythm, when placed together they flow perfectly.

Pure poetry, perhaps even the moonlit ghost of Jim Morrison?

“the rivers of moon light flow into lagoons

Who dares to impugn her white-faced mis-tune

No song of the spheres is more inopportune”

The ‘Moon Song’ blends classical and folk influences that act as a perfect backdrop to, as I have already said, “Pure poetry”.

Adapted from the traditional nursery rhyme ‘The North Wind Doth Blow’, simply titled ‘The North Wind’. Beautiful piano and violin again give this a more classical feel and right at the end there is some orchestration that fades away all too quickly, I could have done with another two minutes of that before the fade out.

In 2010 Miss Cooke wrote a short story called Storm Watch A Tale Of the Sea, this was published in ‘Tales From The Asylum’ from Last Line Publishing House.

The song ‘Stormwatch’ is based on that story. As to be expected this is a lyric heavy piece with a near symphonic accompaniment.

What better way to end than ‘End Of The World’ a perfect apocalyptic tune, though I feel I should ask ‘Just wearing heels and vintage pearls?’ but there again why not it is after all the end!  With it’s overtones of Edith Piaf this cabaret-esque finale is almost uplifting in delivery, one may almost think Miss Cooke is quite looking forward to an impending apocalypse?

So aside from my ‘Interlude’ issue this is a brilliant album, it draws on folk and classical influences, throws in some gothic elements and creates an album full of atmosphere. Very well produced, clever mixing and attention to detail a solo album of some magnitude.

Rating 9.5/10

LM Cooke Music

FACEBOOK

Album available from

Nursey Rhymes for the Apocalypse Download

 A little promotional clip from Miss Cooke

Steampunk Doncaster June 21st & 22nd Entertainment News

One week to go for this years Steampunk Doncaster 2 day event.
Aside from the Trade Show, Litarium, Photographic workshops, Art Exhibition, Film Show, War Gaming etc.
There will also be Competitions and Prize Draws, Refreshments (Mainly Tea knowing steampunkers but lets hope for some subversion and a coffee stall!) and Entertainments.

On saturday afternoon there is a Bartitsu demonstration (for those who didnt watch Guy Ritchies Sherlock Holmes film, that means Kung Fu victorian style), a fashion show from Nightshades Clothing (Lots of goth and steampunk outfits) and a "family friendly" performance on the pole by Scarlet Butterfly.

The evenings entertainment kicks off with some 'Acid-Folk' from Crimson Clocks,
fronted by respected author LM Cooke, they will also be filming a promotional video for their song 'You & Your Crimson Shadow'.

Next up the enigmatic Montague Jacques Fromage, a unique performer of Victorian rap and comedic verse.

To round off the evening there is the Progressive/Classic rock sound of the legendary BB Blackdog, currently promoting the latest album 'No Two'.

Between each act will be stunning performances on the pole from Miss Scarlet Butterfly.

On sunday its a repeat of saturday afternoon, then in the evening at the 'officers mess area' there will be an Acoustic performance by The Storm Trees.

For tickets for the weekend go here http://www.steampunkdoncaster.org/tickets.html
If you can only make the saturday evening then its just £4 on the door.

FACEBOOK PAGES
https://www.facebook.com/SteampunkDoncaster
https://www.facebook.com/events/231410597032282/?fref=ts
https://www.facebook.com/events/1413300742256595/?fref=ts

Crimson Clocks - A Darker Shadow (EP Review)

01.Crimson Circus (Live At The Circus Mix)
02.Crimson Circus
03.All Seeing Eye
04.Washer At The Ford
05.Safe Pair Of Hands
06.Hel
07.Shadow

Linzi Cooke (Vocals)
Jo Luckett (Violin/Oboe)
Colin Cooke (Bass)
Steve Jolliffe (Drums)

Steampunk is not a genre of music but a way of life for those involved, so when it comes to bands you never know what you are going to get, it could be Rap, Funk, Pop or Symphonic Metal but is often based on 80's Electro Pop/Goth and 70's Prog/Art rock.

Crimson Clocks were formed in Birmingham in the spring of 2012 by 'Steampunk' author linzi cooke and friends, they set out to create a sound based in rock but with everything else thrown in from Jazz to Reggae, thus creating their own self styled "Clock N Roll".
They released their debut EP late last year titled 'Ingeniously Evil'.
Live they are sometimes joined by a lead guitarist and are one of a number of bands playing at this years Alt-Fest in August and will also be playing at the Steampunk Doncaster weekend on saturday june 21st

Upon first listen to their latest EP the term 'Acid-Folk' comes to mind, the first 2 songs are the same except that the first has circus sounds added to the mix.
The music is delivered with a simple drum beat, almost undetectable bass playing and a solid performance on violin, the vocals are reminicent of Celia Humphris (The Trees) and Aletta Lohmeyer (Saturnalia).

'All Seeing Eye' has a faster pace and some excellent Oboe running throughout, however again the bass is very low in the mix.

The violin and drums once again are the focus with the music and the almost trad/folk style of lyric and vocal delivery could well have been from an old holyground album circa 1972.

Yay the first thing i hear is bass playing on 'Safe Pair Of Hands', this is a happy little tune that bounces along almost, yes im gonna say this, imagine a folkish rendition of 'Hey Big Spender' just has that vibe!

The longest track here is called 'Hel' i first heard this a few days ago on 'GASP RADIO' and the Oboe riff stuck with me all night, it was bugging me as i had heard it before a long time ago, i still cant work out where though may have been 'Astral Navigations' or one of those old albums.
This is a very dark song with a classic pagan/psych feel, if you have ever heard the original Black Widow demos from 1969 when Kay Garret was the vocalist or even something from Covens legendary debut from the same year.

The final song stays with the darker sound and theme, 'Shadow' also has the most going on music wise, some great bass playing, heavier drums and a violin riff that Pete Pavli (High Tide) would have been proud of.

So a great EP, would have liked to have heard more of the bass playing to help create a richer sound, i could see this band being picked up by Lee Dorrian at some point in the future, just need to except that not being catagorised may seem like a good idea but when your music is 'Acid-Folk' you should go with it because there is a huge audience out there who may be missing out.


Rating 9/10
For fans Of : Circulus, Comus, The Trees, Dando Shaft, Blood Ceremony, Chrome Hoof

Buy the ep here : https://crimsonclocks.bandcamp.com/releases

Facebook Page : https://www.facebook.com/CrimsonClocks