Tag: Orlando FL

Single Review by William Ruben HelmsDec 10, 201922:15

Matthew Messore is an Orlando, FL-born and-based singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. best known as the creative mastermind behind the rapidly rising bedroom recording project Cathedral Bells. Now, as you may recall since the release of last year’s breakthrough self-titled EP, an effort which received support from David Dean Burkhart and praise from The Line of Best Fit, Messore has released a handful of singles from his highly-anticipated Cathedral Bells full-length debut, Velvet Spirit, which will be released through Good Eye Records on March 6, 2020.

The album’s third and latest single “Ephemeral” continues a run of material centered around ethereal vocals., shimmering and reverb-drenched guitars, propulsive drum machine, a motorik-like groove and an infectious radio-friendly hook. And while clearly indebted to 4AD Records glorious heyday, The Cure, The Sisters of Mercy, Chain of Flowers and others, the song is a swooning and urgent fever dream.

Single Review by William Ruben HelmsOct 9, 201913:40

Last year, I wrote about the Orlando, FL-born and-based singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Matthew Messore. And as you amy recall, after spending a period of time traveling across the country, Messore returned to his hometown to work on music with his solo, bedroom recording project Cathedral Bells.

Since the release of last year’s breakthrough self-titled EP, which received support from David Dean Burkhart and praise from the likes of The Line of Best Fit, who likened the project’s sound to “an exploration of the smudged reds of The Cure, hazy pinks of Chromatics and gluey browns of DIIV,” Messore has been busy releasing new material, including his latest single, the gauzy and swooning “Heavy Rain.” Centered around seemingly unending layers of shimmering guitars, propulsive drum machine-driven beats and Messore’s plaintive and ethereal vocals, the track sonically meshes the classic 4AD Records sound with shoegaze in a way that feels warmly familiar yet novel.

“Sometimes, loneliness can feel like it’s raining down on you and there’s such a storm of emotion, you wonder if anyone can understand,” Messore told FAULT Magazine.

Single Review by William Ruben HelmsOct 8, 201819:20

Matthew Messore, is an Orlando, FL-born and-based singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist — and as the story goes, after spending a period of time traveling across the country, Messore returned to his hometown to work on music, with his solo, bedroom recording project Cathedral Bells. So far, the project’s material thematically focuses on the disquiet and isolation that comes after leaving your hometown for a while and finding yourself returning to the life you thought you left. Interestingly enough Messore’s latest single is a cover of Teen Beams’ “Cemetery Surf,” that manages to retains the lo-fi, home recorded vibes and ethereal melodies of the original, while pushing the tempo up to an almost dance floor friendly level with an emphasis on jangling guitars — and while being a subtle yet unique take on the original, it reveals the song’s infectious hooks.

Single Review by William Ruben HelmsSep 7, 201702:30

Comprised of longtime friends Lauren Morgan and Jordan Shih, the Orlando, FL indie pop duo SALES can trace its origins to when Morgan and Shih met in high school Latin class. In fact, as the story goes, the duo bonded over a mutual love of pop music and despite coming from completely different musical backgrounds — Shih was an electronic music artist and producer, who learned to play guitar while Morgan was a punk rock guitarist, who learned how to use Ableton and other programming, essentially finding a way to synthesize their influences into a familiar yet unique sound. However, SALES didn’t start in earnest until 2012, when the duo invited their friends to like their music page. They then released their debut single “renee,” and split the costs on the first pressing of their 7 inch vinyl single “renee”/”tonka time.” Quickly building upon the buzz they started to receive, the duo self-released and self-promoted a series of singles (i.e., “chinese new year,” “getting it on” and “vow“) before releasing their 2014 debut EP, which was released to critical praise from the likes of Hype Machine, who named them “Ones to Watch,” Pitchfork, and from BBC Radio 6.

The Orlando, FL-based duo self-released their full-length, self-titled debut last year and because of the strength of their previously released singles, as well as album singles “ivy,” “big sis” and “jamz,” the Floridian pop duo have amassed more than 33 million streams. Pretty impressive for a fiercely independent and DIY-leaning band, who write, record, mix and master all of their material in their bedroom studio.

“Talk a Lot,” the duo’s first single of this year, is also the first bit of new material they’ve released since their full-length debut, and as the duo’s Lauren Morgan mentions in press notes, their latest single was produced with “a few new toys.” But interestingly enough, the single will further cement the Orlando-based duo’s reputation for crafting breezy and infectious pop that’s incredibly heartfelt and gushingly earnest — and in an age of sneering irony, and disingenuous, pre-packaged pop product, played on your multi-national conglomerate radio station, the Floridian duo are a welcome breath of fresh air.

The Orlando, FL-based duo will be embarking on a lengthy tour throughout the fall. Check out tour dates below.

Tour Dates

SEP 14 / DENVER, CO / Globe Hall
SEP 17 / LOS ANGELES, CA / The Echo
SEP 20 / SAN FRANCISCO, CA / Great American Music Hall
SEP 22 / KALAMAZOO, MI / Audiotree Music Festival
SEP 23 / CHAMPAIGN, IL / Pygmalion Festival
OCT 3 / ATLANTA, GA / The Masquerade
OCT 5 / HOUSTON, TX / The Secret Group
OCT 6 / SAN ANTONIO, TX / Paper Tiger
OCT 7 / AUSTIN, TX / Barracuda
OCT 8 / DALLAS, TX / Club Dada
OCT 9 / NORMAN, OK / Opolis
OCT 12 / TALLAHASSEE, FL / Club Downunder
NOV 30 / SEATTLE, WA / Neumos *
DEC 1 / VANCOUVER, BC / Biltmore Cabaret *
DEC 3 / PORTLAND, OR / Aladdin Theater *
DEC 6 / SANTA CRUZ, CA / The Catalyst *
DEC 8 / SAN DIEGO, CA / The Irenic *
DEC 14 / PHOENIX, AZ / The Rebel Lounge

* w/ Chaos Chaos

Single Review by William Ruben HelmsApr 11, 201622:15

Earlier this year, I wrote about Orlando, FL-based trio Kinder Than Wolves and their wistful and moody shoegazer rock single “Hazel Days,” a single that sounded as though it could have been released back in 1983 — with the exception of a subtly modern studio sheen. That should be unsurprising as the trio, comprised of Paige Coley (vocals, guitar), Ryan Snow (guitar), and Grant Freeman (drums) are all audio engineers, who made the process of writing and recording their debut EP Mean Something an entirely DIY and collaborative effort, as the EP was produced, engineered and mixed by Coley in the band’s home studio. “Hover,” Mean Something‘s latest single will further cement the trio’s growing reputation for crafting a sound that’s indebted to 120 Minutes-era alternative rock and indie rock as shimmering guitar chords played through gentle amounts of reverb, thundering and propulsive drumming are paired with Coley’s ethereal cooing seemingly floating over the instrumentation — while lyrically, the song is arguably one of the more introspective songs the trio have released to date as the song focuses on the innermost thoughts of a narrator reflecting on an ambivalent and confusing relationship.

Single Review by William Ruben HelmsJan 28, 201621:10

Comprised of three audio engineers, Paige Coley (vocals, guitar), Ryan Snow (guitar), and Grant Freeman (drums), the Orlando, FL-based trio Kinder Than Wolves made the process of writing and recording their debut EP Mean Something an entirely DIY and collaborative effort — with the EP being produced, engineered and mixed by Coley in the band’s home studio. And Mean Something’s first single “Hazel Days” pairs shimmering guitars, a gently driving rhythm and Coley’s hazy and ethereal vocals to create a wistful and moody shoegaze song that sounds as though it could have been released in 1983 — but with a subtly modern sheen.

Uncategorized by William Ruben HelmsApr 28, 201514:15

Comprised of John Paul Pitts (lead vocals, guitar), Thomas Fetke (guitar, backing vocals), Kevin Williams (bass, backing vocals) and Tyler Schwarz (drums), the West Palm Beach, FL-based indie rock band, Surfer Blood can trace their […]

Uncategorized by William Ruben HelmsFeb 7, 201503:15

The new ABC sitcom, Fresh Off The Boat, is based around the life story of the show’s creator. Eddie Huang – as a hip-hop loving 12 year old in the early 90s, his immigrant family […]

Uncategorized by William Ruben HelmsFeb 4, 201521:45

Born in Brazil and based in Orlando, FL, NIKO IS started to win attention across the blogosphere with the release of his debut single, “Cherry Beamer Dreamer,” as he pairs a hypnotic, rapid-fire witty flow, […]

Uncategorized by William Ruben HelmsDec 14, 201315:10

Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings are not only at the forefront of the soul revivalist movement, and the act that put Daptone Records on the international stage as the primary purveyor of all things contemporary soul and […]

Uncategorized by William Ruben HelmsSep 13, 201318:00

Russ Manning, a member of Twin Shadow, released one of my favorite albums last year, +1 EP under the moniker Rush Midnight. The material on that EP is reminiscent of the slickly produced, seductive, synth-based R&B you’d hear on WBLS’s […]

Uncategorized by William Ruben HelmsJul 24, 201301:40

Up-and-coming Orlando, FL-based label, Relief in Abstract, the label home of XXYYXX, will be releasing Fortune Howl’s latest instrumental effort, Earthbound on July 30th. The album reportedly focuses on the frailty of human existence, and the folly […]

Uncategorized by William Ruben HelmsFeb 11, 201318:00

Hailing from Tel Aviv, the duo of Hank and Cupcakes consist of powerhouse vocalist/drummer Cupcakes and bassist/pedal board magician Hank. Named in reference to Charles “Hank” Bukowski and one of his real-life lovers “Cupcakes,” the […]

Uncategorized by William Ruben HelmsJan 21, 201318:40

Sub Pop labelmates Shabazz Palaces and the Helio Sequence are touring as part of a co-headlining tour throughout January and February — you can catch them in Atlanta, GA; Miami, FL; Asheville, NC; Orlando, FL; Nashville, TN; Louisville, KY; St. Louis, MO; and ending in Bloomington, IN before the […]

Uncategorized by William Ruben HelmsJan 21, 201315:00

Sub Pop labelmates Shabazz Palaces and the Helio Sequence are touring as part of a co-headlining tour throughout January and February – you can catch them in Atlanta, GA; Miami, FL; Asheville, NC; Orlando, FL; […]

Tag: Orlando FL

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