Eclectic Vibes - June 2013

by Andrew Frey

Summer is here! Get out and see some of the amazing music that will be floating through your area. Don’t be filled with regrets of what could have been, fill yourself with the satisfaction of having done and seen that.

Soggy Mente
Bella Mente was my first camp-out festival of the year and it was unfortunately wet and chilly. Mother nature was not cooperative and refused to show ANY sun for the entire time we were there. Consequently, shoppers were spartan and attendance was far from sellout level. Music wise, only Zoogma and Papadosio  managed to roust my attention out of the doldrums of jam-band overabundance and redundance.  (bellamente.bellamusicfest.com)

Bring on Baroness
While touring in support of their landmark double album, Yellow and Green, the members of the entrancing swamp-metal band Baroness were in an accident near Bath, England which left two band members in serious condition and forced them to cancel all remaining tour dates. Months have passed and the band has recovered and retooled enough to bring their reinvigorated fire and passion to you on 6/9 at the Majestic. baronessmusic.com/

Bakti Fest
If Yoga and Kirtan are your thing, Bakti Fest, billed as ‘The Spiritual Woodstock’, is sure to excite. Expect Kirtan sets from Jai Uttal, Dave Stringer, Guruganesha Band, Ragani and numerous others as well as workshops, breathwork and yoga from Shyamdus, Jerry Landau, Govindas & Radha, Saul David Raye plus many more. All this happens July 5-7 at Willow Island (Alliant Energy Center) in Madison. baktifest.com


MICRO REVIEWS:
This Month's Rating Scale is from 1 is Lobotomized thru 10 is Augmented

Dubtonic Kru - Evolution

Dubtonic Kru - Evolution

Dubtonic Kru

Album title: Evolution
Record Label: VP Records
Rating: 8

Appealing to a wide range of audiences through their eclectic range of influences, rhythms and dueling vocals, this award winning, highly acclaimed and hard working reggae dub outfit based out of Jamaica will certainly awaken the Jah within. Appearing July 4 with DJ Trichrome at High Noon Saloon in Madison.

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Dubtonic Kru online:
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Danny Michel with the Garifuna Collective - Black Birds Are Dancing Over Me

Danny Michel with the Garifuna Collective - Black Birds Are Dancing Over Me

Danny Michel with the Garifuna Collective

Album title: Black Birds Are Dancing Over Me
Record Label: Cumbancha
Rating: 9

A curious combination project between popular indie rocker Danny Michel (compared to Paul Simon and Peter Gabriel) and Central America’s Garifuna Collective. But this curiosity has impressive vision and vitality along with infectious beats and tasty lyrics so what’s not to love? Having already earned a Juno Award nomination in Canada (similar to a Grammy), this release has a lot going for it.

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Cas Haley - La Si Dah

Cas Haley - La Si Dah

Cas Haley

Album title: La Si Dah
Record Label: Easy Star Records
Rating: 8

Successfully funded through the crowd-sourcing website Pledge Music, La Si Dah jumps into your eardrums and consciousness via gently woven reggae beats and vocal-heavy melodies. Cas is a fun entertainer and although he didn’t win America’s Got Talent, it set the stage for his career to achieve new heights and depth.

(2400) Page Views

Cas Haley online:
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Carmen Souza - Kachupada

Carmen Souza - Kachupada

Carmen Souza

Album title: Kachupada
Record Label: Galileo
Rating: 9

Smoothly sauntering through the world jazz market of musical manifestation, Carmen Souza has honed a unique approach by taking her Cape Verdean Creole roots and infuses them with infectious traditional African music, Brazillian rhythms, and a plethora of minute nuances that make this release shine and sparkle. 

(2395) Page Views

Carmen Souza online:
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Various Artists - The Unscratchable Itch: A tribute to Little Fyodor

Various Artists - The Unscratchable Itch: A tribute to Little Fyodor

Various Artists

Album title: The Unscratchable Itch: A tribute to Little Fyodor
Record Label: Public Eyesore
Rating: 8

Little Fyodor is a twisted and wacky SubGenius superstar from Denver that has been spreading his bent mania for over 20 years; far long enough to deserve a tribute, so this is it! Featured here are 21 mind bubbling retakes on Fyodor songs including the classics, You Give Me A HardOn (Dan Susnara/The Inactivists), I Wanna Be The Buddha (Evan Cantor), The Blackness (Boyd Rice) and Everybody’s Fucking (Lasse Jensen). Who really needs a firm grip on reality anyway?

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Various Artists online:
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