Cloudkicker release " Live with Intronaut" A Nod to Metal

First Spin

New Music Reviews with Honey Roc

Cloudkicker is set to release " Live with Intronaut" on Tuesday November 25 via Century Media, this will be the 5th release for Cloudkicker and is expected to be the best yet. 

The line up for Cloudkicker consists of  Ben Sharp - guitars, bass, drum programming, a one man orchestra of instrumental "heavy" metal. Intronaut is made up of Sacha Dunable, Dave Timnick, Danny Walker and Joe Lester, I've not very familiar with instrumental metal or Ben Sharpe or Intronaut so I did some research.  I am a huge fan of metal so I was curious and open.

A recent podcast at http://createthecreators.com/cloudkicker, has shown Ben to be a dedicated music maker, friendly, creative, and hungry for creative ambiance, (the interviewee was far more impressive than the person he had to deal with). Ben is a hobbyist pilot, the counter balance structure vs free form. 

The evolving sound for Cloudkicker can be heard on Soundcloud - http://www.soundcloud.com/bmsharp.

With over 2,500 followers, people are listening and liking, YouTube feedback is mixed but mostly positive. The tracks vary between delicate and trippy to in your face hard metal. Albums released between 2008 to 2014 shows growth with staying true to his style.

Cloudkicker and Intronaut  Tour dates;  http://www.intronautofficial.com

Intronaut  is the live incarnation in multi-person form of Cloudkicker on tour, the latest release is a collection of high quality live and studio tracks. This album stays true to Cloudkicker, hard hitting drums and chunky guitars all in mid range, no heavy bass; which is surprising because Cloudkicker draws so much from classic metal and ambient music. Long phrasing, repetitive riffs and lofty scales provide a feeling of symmetry which satisfies but may bore some used to staccato choppers of classic metal. 

Intronaut shows more style and genre variations, the expanded use of non traditional sounds inserted into music are abstract, unafraid to go out of range to exploit deeper ventures. I'm very into how drums are presented in depth and tone, Intronaut offers a drum sound not as brassy and digital. But again, not enough bottom for my tastes.

 The advantage Intronaut has is more input from more people, where Cloudkicker, it seems, is primarily a one man show. 

If you are into technical musicianship in the digital age with homage to old school rock, this is interesting.  On quite a few tracks I get the feeling he's saying, oh yeah? I can do that, instead of seeking pure originality But hey, it's all been done, we're just hearing someone else's spin on it

Download and go for a long drive and enjoy -You can get their album here
http://www.cmdistro.com/Search/cloudkicker

#cloudkicker #intronaut #metal #instrumental #new #release #debroc #century media

Article on two Icons of a Musical Era, Still Making Sense.

What is it about an artist that resonates with us. What makes them so memorable.

I just read an interview article with David Byrne and Cyndi Lauper, written by Philip Galanes of The New York Times.

The article is a detailed conversation between subjects and the author, discussing David and Cyndi's recent meet up in NY, their history as friends, their lives as musicians and their present theatrical projects. What I read was presented in a "fluffy" manner yet was informative. 

My take on this article was not one of admonishment,  so often you see interviews like this that put the people in focus at a level of "where are they now" or "look at me, I still matter", or it starts out as friendly banter then escallates into the heckelling of a hard sought and well deserved career or history of ones life. I can, at times be hard and judgemental of my Journalistic peers,  but I was very impressed with the writer's presence to bring the reader into the lives of two of the most influential artists of our lives.

At 48, the icons of my youth have either retreated into the shadows of obscurity, moved on from this plane of existence or, if so lucky to do so, stayed in the eyes of the world and the fans that apreciate them. There have been to few artists like David and Cyndi, artists that have amassed respect on a multitude of levels yet have stayed real and humble.

I loved the music of The Talking Heads, but what endeared me the Byrne's work was his movie True Stories, it showed the ridiculous nature of people and whaen said people are confronted with this reflection in the mirror, they only postulate more and tower in their stupidity. He has the ability to lets us see the world through his eyes.

Cyndi has stayed true to herself as well, forever young in her bright and often snarky, irreverent way. Her ability to empower her followers and fans simply with her smile is in itself amazing. Both David and Cyndi have an uncanny staying power, as well as the ability to look at and into themselves, seeing the world for what it is and what it could be.

Theses musical geniuses have the one thing that has kept them timeless,  they wre able to inspire us to live, and matured with us yet stayed young and rebellious without loosing their charm.

Maybe I am just rambling. . But as David once said so well "Stop making sense".

Neither artist have become aging relics of days gone by, hoping to relive glory days of youth.  Their glory days are the present. If anything they have been emboldened to us, reaching new highs without fear of falling.

If possible, take a momment to read the interview in today's NY Times. It is worth your time. I would love to meet David Byrne and Cyndi Lauper,  I just hope if I do, I can retain composure and not get all giddy and "fan girl" on them.

Images of NAMM 2014

Some of the images of NAMM in Anaheim.  We saw way more than this and will post as much as possible.  I look forward to brining you more in the way of audio pod casts and videos. Check back often. You can also find us on YouTube -search for Xombiewoof and you will find us everwhere.