Stonecraft is Andy Morgan, and Viil Fjose, a Celtic music
duo who blend flavours from Welsh and Irish music, combined with their own
original compositions to create a compelling and unique fusion that leans
towards a progressive acoustic folk.
The duo have four releases, “The Call” – 2008, “Moving
Tides” – 2010, “Behind the Door” - 2013, and their latest, an EP “The Quiet
Truth” in March 2015.
It’s approaching 3 am and Bill Ricchini aka Summer Fiction
isn’t on the windswept beach his moniker may suggest. He’s in a dank basement
echo chamber at Eve Studios—a 200-year old country house/recording studio just
North of Manchester, UK. His wordless “oohs” bounce off the cinderblock walls
overdubbing a tricky vocal harmony part Brian Wilson, part Jeff Lynn. A jangly
guitar chimes in channeling Johnny Marr—born just a few miles away.
It’s been over 4 years since Ricchini’s self-titled debut as
Summer Fiction was released to praise from New York Magazine, Vogue, NPR, KCRW,
Magnet, and other admirers. In that time, Ricchini moved from South
Philadelphia to Brooklyn and took songwriting trips to Mexico and the Pacific
Northwest.
Ricchini also went through a rough spot during that time,
losing two close family members to illness. Soon after, he saw the
disintegration of his parents’ 40-year marriage. In the months that followed,
he found himself writing songs that felt different. These were not love songs
but they were about love and longing, often focusing on romantic and religious
obsession. Songs that examined the idea of lover as deity and explored the
broken and beautiful aspects of his own relationships
Ricchini approached long time collaborator and UK transplant
Brian Christinzio (BC Camplight) to co-produce the new Summer Fiction record,
titled Himalaya. Arrangements were made and Ricchini camped out at Manchester’s
Eve Studios for two weeks that chilly spring shaping the songs: “the Big Star
meets The La’s power pop of “Perfume Paper,” the smiley pet sounds carousel of
“Lauren Lorraine,” the Nilsson/Bacharach melodic songcraft of “Religion of
Mine,” the icy fingerpicked ballad “By My Side.”
Himalaya was mixed in Brooklyn by Grammy-winning engineer
Geoff Sanoff and mastered by Joe Lambert (The National, Sharon Van Etten,
Deerhunter, Panda Bear).
Ricchini’s songs have appeared in films such as The Fault in
Our Stars, Safety Not Guaranteed and television shows such as Grey’s Anatomy.
Musical: Picked out the melody of "Billy Jean" at
age 12, borrowed Dad's Jazzmaster, broke the whammy bar in a fit of metal fury,
took classical guitar till i got grounded, musically destroyed a garage, moved
to Denver, played "The Scene," heard my song was on the radio (denied
it), dabbled in jazz till i decided free jazz was funner and more annoying to
yuppies, fell asleep for 7 years, woke up, picked up a guitar, picked out the
melody to "Billy Jean." Personal: Birthing required forceps, squishy
head, craving kraft singles. Grew a chin, fell in love with the desert, eloped
to the ocean, dove in and now ive finally come up for air. Here's the evidence.
Album: The Atomic Clock:
The Atomic Clock is a mythic journey that starts with the
rising of The Sun and ends with the setting of The Moon. It is an epic sojourn,
a spiritual, emotional, and physical journey from the perspective of a man who
has seen a thing or two.
The Radiation Flowers, formerly “Powder Blue”, are a
progressive Psychedelic band that hails from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada.
The sound of elevation throbbed into a vertical sky, The
Radiation Flowers navigate the same sonic playground as influences Spacemen 3,
The Brian Jonestown Massacre and The Cure, among many others. Guitar rock for
northern lights and dark side mantras muttered in the drowsy light, these folks
know how to get you off with minimal chords played to maximal effect. Like they
say, "it's a sci-fi-hurricane kinda groove".
The Liquid Scene brings back the retro scented psychedelic
sounds of yesteryear for the new generation (you know who you are). Join other
like-minded and like-spirited luminaries of change on the retro road of love ~
because deep down you know you’re old skool and that music can change the
world. It’s a new dawn. And Revolutions is here...
The Band:
Lead singer/songwriter Becki (bodhi) diGregorio has
previously released two solo albums that sold well in Europe on the Jarmusic
Label. Those discs featured
contributions by XTC members Andy Partridge and Dave Gregory. On this collection bodhi plays acoustic
guitar, sitar and dilruba.
Lead, electric guitar and sonic stringed effects are handled
by Tom Ayers whose credits include performing and recording with Columbia
recording artists Persephone’s Bees, as well as recording two albums with Chuck
Prophet.
On bass guitar and keyboards is Endre Tarczy who has toured
with Chris Cain, Coco Montoya and The Beatles tribute band The White Album
Ensemble.
Playing drums and percussion is Trey Sabatelli whose credits
include Jefferson Starship, The Tubes and Todd Rundgren.
Puma Pumku is a Psychedelic Pop band from Santiago
de Compostela Spain. The band released their debut album “Is it in You?” with
Spanish Record Label “Matapadre” in November 2014. The 9 song album features a blend
of Psychedelic and Dream Pop music which is anchored by their hit single
“Twilight of the Mind”.
The album comes after their self titled EP released in 2013,
produced by Roberto Mallo and Rodrigo Caamaño of Bizarre Love Triangle.
Puma Pumku are, Amadeo Varela (guitar, vocals), Alvaro Dosil
(guitar, vocals), Guillermo Cavero (bass), Oscar Raña (drums) and Francisco
Varela (keyboard)
Formed in North Carolina in 2013 by
multi-instrumentalist/songwriter Stephen Warwick, Ancient Cities melds
well-crafted lyrics with fuzzed-out guitars, hints of psychedelia, and a pop
sensibility.
Warwick gained noteriety in 2010 with his lof-fi folk
endeavor titled Talking Machine, receiving local acclaim as best song-writer
and landing on Shuffle Magazine's top 10 list of best albums that year.
Seeking a new musicial outlet, Warwick headed back to the
studio and enlisted friends to join him in the for a yet-to-be-named project.
Towards the end of the recordings, Justin Fedor (The New Familiars) joined
Warwick and the two set out as a duo for their first tour under the name
Ancient Cities, after a dream Warwick had as a child. July 2014 marked the
release of Ancient Cities' self-titled debut album, and they expanded their
live sound with a rotating cast of musicians. Current line-up includes Justin
Faircloth on organ/synth and James Dulin on Drums.
They've been touring up and down the east coast for a few
years playing club dates as well as festivals such as CMJ Music Marathon,
Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion and the prestegious Newport Folk Festival's
56th anniversary. They were one of three bands chosen by Converse to play
Newport, as well as record at Converse Rubber Tracks Studio in Boston where
they started work on their follow-up album Supermoon Blackout.
Ancient Cities has been featured in the Vanity Fair and the
Village Voice, as well as a series of live videos with famed music sites PASTE
Magazine and Live & Breathing. Most recently the song "Juice"
from their debut album can be heard on SHOWTIME'S Shameless Season 7
