Songs You May Have Missed #716

11 Nov 2021 Leave a comment

by Ed Cyphers in Songs You May Have Missed Tags: ,

Nektar: “Lonely Roads” (1973)

In 1973 underrated English prog rockers Nektar produced what many consider to be their masterwork, Remember the Future.

Comprised of two album-side length epics, it was suited to FM rock radio, but difficult to shoehorn onto AM–think Tales from Topographic Oceans.

The forlorn, atmospheric “Lonely Roads”, an excerpt from the album’s second side, was used as a radio promo, and it nicely shows off the guitar textures, vocals and songwriting of one Roye Albrighton, the band’s creative beacon.

Side one of RTF is highly recommended.

See also: https://edcyphers.com/2013/10/28/songs-you-may-have-missed-493/

Songs You May Have Missed #715

11 Nov 2021 Leave a comment

by Ed Cyphers in Songs You May Have Missed Tags: ,

Saint Motel: “Sisters” (2019)

The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack shows off the variety of flavors of ear candy the ambitious Los Angeles indie pop band produces.

See also: https://edcyphers.com/2020/03/06/songs-you-may-have-missed-655/

Songs You May Have Missed #714

11 Nov 2021 Leave a comment

by Ed Cyphers in Songs You May Have Missed Tags: ,

The Merrymakers: “Saltwater Drinks” (1997)

Joyous, effervescent and melodic power pop from Sweden.

There are a bunch of songs on the Merrymakers’ Bubblegun LP that would likely have been hits in the era of the music that inspired them.

See also: https://edcyphers.com/2012/06/18/songs-you-may-have-missed-131/

Songs You May Have Missed #713

10 Oct 2021 Leave a comment

by Ed Cyphers in Songs You May Have Missed Tags: ,

Durand Jones & The Indications: “Love Will Work it Out” (2021)

Durand Jones and company seem to have dug through the dustier crates of vinyl for the inspiration to create the soulful symphony that is 2021’s Private Space.

The mix of vocals between Jones and falsetto (and drummer) Aaron Frazer, along with cool vibes by Joel Ross create a magical retro sound that calls to mind Earth, Wind & Fire’s jazzier moments, with a sprinkling of Philly soul and maybe a touch of Bobby Caldwell.

While the tyrics touch on topical issues such as the pandemic and racial tensions, the message of this soul-soothing song is a hopeful one.

Songs You May Have Missed #712

02 Oct 2021 Leave a comment

by Ed Cyphers in Songs You May Have Missed Tags: ,

Los Manolos: “Amigos Para Siempre” (1992)

Los Manolos are ten friends from Barcelona whose airplane wing shirt collars make them a risk to go airborne while performing, Or walking briskly.

Their mirror shades, Elvis sideburns, neon suits and bell-bottoms certainly lend them a distinctive…uh, flare.

And their music, like their look, isn’t for everybody. But if you happen to like rumba with a rock attitude, they could be the life of your next partido.

“Amigos Para Siempre”, whose music was composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber, may sound familiar. It was written for Sarah Brightman and Spanish tenor José Carreras to sing at the closing ceremony of the the 1992 Barcelona Olympic games.

Los Manolos themselves also performed at those same ’92 closing ceremonies.

This version of “Amigos” reached number 3 in the Spanish charts.

See also: https://edcyphers.com/2012/11/12/songs-you-may-have-missed-230/

Songs You May Have Missed #711

02 Oct 2021 Leave a comment

by Ed Cyphers in Songs You May Have Missed Tags: ,

John Mayer: “New Light” (2018)

How this soft, silky slice of faux-80’s soul-inflected disco pop missed the Hot 100 is a mystery to me–like the appeal of so many artists who do inhabit the upper reaches of said singles chart.

The video is a hoot too. In an Instagram post Mayer joked:  “I needed to make a video for ‘New Light’ but nobody could agree on a budget, so I went to a place downtown and made this with a company that usually does birthday and Bar Mitzvah videos.”

Yup, that’s pretty much what it looks like.

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