Music without borders

Vancouver

2009-06-20T09:41:00.000-07:00

Welcome to our 43rd show!

While we do our usual globe-scouring to find great music, this show, as the title suggests, includes a spotlight on the thriving Vancouver music scene.
(To listen, simply click the title of this blog (Vancouver) and select Archive 43)

The featured artists:

Off the top (with thanks to Amit Riff for the intro to the show):

Yeah Whatever (Vancouver,Canada)
"Human"
Thundering, high energy rock. To be played LOUD.

YUCA (Vancouver, Canada)
"It's about something"
Brilliant blend of pop, alternative and rock. Great songwriting.

Versus the Nothing (Vancouver, Canada)
"Just wait"
One of Vancouver's most energetic live bands.This song runs the gamut from soft ballad to thundering metal. Striking vocals.

Coldspell (Kiruna, Sweden)
"Fade away"
Yet another stellar track from their new album Infinite Stargaze. Rock with a "classic rock" feel at its best.

Gtrman (Toronto, Canada)
"Coming home"
Our first acoustic piece of the set. Two pure, natural sounding acoustic guitars with some pretty quick fingers. Very nicely done.

Neil Campbell (Liverpool, UK)
"Ghost story, iii"
This is an excerpt from the album Ghost Stories by classically trained guitar player Neil Campbell. Instrumental in the sense that their are no lyrics. The human voice is used strickly as an instrument. Ethereal vocal parts by Ann Taft. Fascinating peice of music.

YUCA (Vancouver, Canada)
"Hanging by a thread"
This second song from YUCA again showcases their great songwriting skills. However, pay attention to the vocals. Truly remarkable performance from a singer and a band that is destined to become much better known outside our region.

FDV (Naples, Italy)
"Improvisation 1"
Very 'trance like' piece of experimental music. Three overdubbed guitars with a touch of digital delay courtesy of Italian guitarist Fabrizio Divicino. Throw in some keyboards by Luigi Rubino and the end result is a very cool soundscape.

Flaming Bess (Dusseldorf, Germany)
"Flucht & Verfolgung"
Instrumental piece with progressive rock influences coupled with a great groove. Very tasty.
(My apologies to the band as I probably massacre the title's pronunciation in the show!)

Click the "Artist Info" button at www.planetnerve8.com for more info on the artists we feature.

Thanks for listening!

Europa

2009-05-23T09:06:00.000-07:00

The good weather has finally hit Vancouver and we want to kick off the summer season with a good cross-section of tunes for you to 'crank' as the weather warms.

To Listen, click the title (Europa) and select Archive 42.

The featured artists:

Off the top (with thanks to Amit Riff for the intro to the show):

Coldspell (Kiruna, Sweden)
"Raving Mad"
High energy, fist pumping rock n' roll guaranteed to blow the cobwebs out of any place they're hiding. Turn up the volume and enjoy!

Dreamscape (Munich, Germany)
"Phenomenon"
Another great track off Infinite Stargaze, their brand new album.
This track takes you on quite a journey from thundering orchestral metal through progressive and into some quiet, subtle pieces. Very nicely done.

Stonestep (Latvia)
"My own dust"
An 'encore' presentation of a band we first played last fall (before we started releasing shows as podcasts). Excellent example of contemporary rock. Great writing and great playing.

Cloverseeds (Lyon, France)
"Recall"
Brilliant piece of music. Very tasteful layering of guitar parts, outstanding vocals and just the right touch from drums and bass to complement the song's feel. Elements of Radiohead. Very contemporary and very nicely done.

Fabrice Bony (Ile-de-France, France)
"Thread of life"
The first instrumental of the show. Shades of Ambient and Progressive styles. Very tasty piece of music.

Mindmovie (Dusseldorf, Germany)
"Mekon Peppers"
Our second instrumental. Great feel and great playing from one of our favourite artists.

Lonero (San Jose, California)
"Thoughts"
The second track we have featured from the originators of the "guitarcore" style of playing. This track features a different side of the band, edging into almost a 'Santana' type sound. Great composition and very nicely played.

Eye Rhyme (Toronto, Canada)
"Electricity"
The first of two from Eye Rhyme. High energy song with a distinctive 'Rush" type feel to it. What's in the water in Toronto? We are definitely having our attention caught by a disproportionate number of bands from the Toronto area.

Eye Rhyme (Toronto, Canada)
"Dying hope"
Great writing and playing on a song with a very heavy lyrical content. The lyrics reference the case of Robert Latimer, a Saskatchewan farmer convicted of second degree murder in the death of his daughter who had been born with cerebral palsy. She had lived a life of unending pain and this case ignited the debate on the concept of 'mercy killing'.

Composition

2009-04-18T19:43:00.000-07:00

This show features a mix of brand new material as well as some 'encore' performances from the days when we didn't offer podcasts/downloads of the show.

We also offer a very unique insight into the creative process. The remarkable Imogen Heap, a British artist who we have featured a few times now, released 'raw, unprocessed' vocal tracks on the internet for composers anywhere in the world to download and write and record their own music as accompaniment. The result we showcase is spectacular.

To listen, click on "Listen" (at www.planetnerve8.com) or simply click the title of this blog. Select "Listen online" or "Download to a portable player".

The featured artists:

Off the top (with thanks, as always, to Amit Riff for the intro to the show):

Shaolin Temple of Boom (Los Angeles, California)
"The end of reason"
Turn your speakers up for this one. Containing elements of industrial rock, the production gives this a warmth (and thunder!) often missing from industrial rock. Very powerful piece of music.

Neveragain (Oakland, California)
"No Heaven"
Somewhat continuing the 'industrial theme' of the first track, this cut off Neveragain's new album "The Great Betrayal", brings a compelling mix of the alienation of industrial with a melody that is guaranteed to stick in your head. Very cool.

Shen (UK)
"The Journey"
An 'encore play', this was picked because I loved the intro guitar part. Some cool playing (and singing) throughout.

Klimt 1918 (Italy)
"Skygazer"
Why we (in North America) don't typically get access to material like this is beyond me. This has "monster hit" written all over it.

New Groove Formation
"International waste of time"
Interspersing the rock with a touch of ska. Great groove and great lyrics.

Urbandux (Gothenburg, Sweden)
"The aftermath"
Very tasty production on this piece. Well written, well played and well sung. Great job all round.

Noble Brats (Tel-Aviv, Israel)
"The offer"
Another example of great writing and production. Love the guitar tones and phrasing on this song. Very strong vocals, also.

Imogen Heap with Lunartheory (UK/Canada)
"The song that never was"
This is the piece referred to in the intro to this show. Remarkable insight into the creative process. A MUST listen!

Gravity Field (Hastings, UK)
"Paris based think tank"
Definitely a contender for "Best song title". This song takes you on a trip through thundering Black Sabbath territory, into Pink Floyd/Porcupine Tree and throws in a touch of Radiohead for good measure. Really interesting writing and arranging (as well as playing). Great song!

John Bassett (Hastings, UK)
"For Sale"
This is a very stripped down song from the man behind Gravity Field (as well as KingBathMat). Just a man and his guitar. I love it!

Quarante (Archive 40)

2009-04-04T09:20:00.000-07:00

Welcome to our 40th show!

Another very diverse show. This is already available as a download so you don't have to be sitting at a computer to listen.

To listen, click on "Listen" (at www.planetnerve8.com) or simply click the title of this blog. Select "Listen online" or "Download to a portable player".

Check out the selections below!

The featured artists:

Off the top (with thanks to Amit Riff for the intro to the show):

LoNero (San Jose, California)
"Loose"
Instrumental rock band. Originators of "Guitarcore". Great playing and great energy. Intense yet retaining a sense of melody. Very cool.

Coldspell (Kiruna, Sweden)
"Straight things out"
They come from the land of the ice and snow from the midnight sun where the hot springs blow. Air-punching stadium rock at its best.

Tenth Planet (Toronto, Canada)
"Even if you're still alive"
Another great track off the album "Everything is never over", co-produced by Jeff Martin (ex The Tea Party) and Mike Turner (ex Our Lady Peace). Also features a snippet from the interview we had with co-founder/guitarist Brian Paul last week. The complete interview is now available to download or listen online off the Artist Info page. Behind the scenes insights on making it in today's music business (including the importance of a good drum sound and the challenges of trying to 'make it' in your home region).

The Wishing Tree (UK)
"Osara"
Beautiful piece with a folk influence but the production of Steve Rothery (Marillion) puts the album in a unique category of its own. Very tasteful.

Roland Nipp (Richmond, BC Canada)
"Just like going home"
Instrumental guitar piece. Very soulful playing style and beautiful guitar tone.

LunarTheory (Saskatchewan, Canada)
"Beautiful Dark Dreams"
Pop sensibility coupled with a haunting melody create a very memorable piece. Great production.

Fabrice Bony (Paris, France)
"Four birds as witnesses"
Very unique instrumental piece. Starts with solo acoustic piano and weaves in and out of progressive and jazz stylings (hints of "Lamb lies down on Broadway" by Genesis at points). Very nicely done.

Toxic Bee Buzz (Briey, France)
"Odd men out"
"Sidewalks in flowers"
If you've ever wondered what Mick Jagger and Keith Richards would sound like if they were just now emerging from the contemporary music scene in London (as twenty year olds in 2009), you'll fall off your chair when you hear this band. The first tune is a very contemporary rock song and the second has a superb stripped down bluesy feel. Amazing work.

Enjoy the show and thanks for listening!

Check out our 24/7 stream. (Link is on the "Listen" page). The playlist is growing. If you're a PC user with Windows Media Player as your default player, you won't be getting song/artist information. However, if you click the Real Player link, you will get all that info.

Please do let us know if you experience any challenges.

Cheers,

Michael

Boomba Operatic (Archive 39)

2009-03-26T13:12:00.000-07:00

While our last show (Archive 38) focused on one genre, this show is probably one of the most diverse shows we've ever put together. Definitely, a show to challenge your ears with selections ranging from Aussie Rock through to neo-classical/opera. Check out the selections below!

(To listen, select Archive 39 off the "Listen" page at http://www.planetnerve8.com/ or simply click the title of this blog)

The featured artists:

Off the top (with thanks to Amit Riff for the intro to the show):

The Love Dogs (Melbourne, Australia)
"Boomba Roomba"
A quiet start that pulls you in and then BLAM! Turn it up to 'feel' this one. Great 'straight ahead' rock that Australian bands seem to have a knack for. Also, check out what a world class rock voice singer Nic Haxaw Leon has.

Gravity Field (Hastings, UK)
"Psychoanalyze"
The first of two songs featuring the diverse talents of singer, composer John Bassett. This song has the thundering sound of Black Sabbath and throws in some interesting twists. Very cool song.

KingBathmat (Hastings, UK)
"Paper Bag"
The second project featuring John Bassett. You'll have a hard time believing this is from the same person. A very dreamy feel through most of the song giving John a chance to showcase the remarkable expressiveness of his voice. Some very tasty work also from guitarist Lee Sulsh

Phil Morrissey and the Alchemists (Oxford, UK)
"Through the rain"
A delightful "all acoustic" piece. Acoustic guitar, viola and bongocero create a mesmerizing sound through which singer Phil Morissey weaves a captivating vocal. Hints of Traffic. Very nicely done.

Sophya Baccini (Naples, Italy)
"Aradia"
We move into a very different category with this piece. The intro has a very operatic/classical feel to it. If you're a headbanger, I challenge you to listen all the way through! Sophya exhibits a truly remarkable vocal range (and great control over her voice). Great job with the slow build of the strings and orchestration which climaxes in a final third that is much more in Marillion/Pink Floyd territory, complete with soaring guitar. Remarkable work.

Tenth Planet (Toronto, Canada)
"See yourself"
The first of two tracks off their new album "Everything is never over", co-produced by Jeff Martin (ex The Tea Party) and Mike Turner (ex Our Lady Peace). This is one of the strongest albums I've heard in a VERY long time.
"See yourself" is another song that gets off to a thundering start and doesn't let go until the last note is played. Powerhouse vocals!

"Balcony"
This second song has a much quieter start and features a mood setting keyboard pattern reminiscent of Led Zepplin's "No Quarter" without being derivitive. As with the two songs earlier in the show featuring John Bassett, this second song allows singer Martin Ouellette to expand on the tremendous depth of emotional range in his singing. Guitarist Brian Paul brings in some very tasty work, also. Initially on acoustic but when it's time to 'power out', Brian 'POWERS OUT'!

Ozric Tentacles (somewhere in the wilds of the west of England)
"Mooncalf"
We just received an advance copy of this track off their brand new album "The YumYum Tree" scheduled for release on April 27. As with their previous work, this track immediately serves notice that this is a 'players band'. Outstanding musicianship throughout as they weave through multiple styles; Progressive, jazz fusion, dub, trance, wherever they choose!
Can hardly wait to hear the rest of the album.

Voodoo Johnson (Brirmingham, UK)
"Nobody does it better"
Yes, you read that correctly. This is not a 'formal' release. This is 'the lads' pushing some boundaries in rehearsal. I was almost afraid to listen at first but this truly ROCKS! Think Guns 'n Roses covering this song (with Queen's Brian May invited to join them). Kev Bayliss again displays his great vocal range and the entire band absolutely rocks. Great way to end the show!

Progressive Rock 2.0 (Archive 38)

2009-03-10T13:51:00.000-07:00

For only the second time since we launched our station, this show is dedicated to just one genre of music: Progressive Rock.

(To listen, select Archive 38 off the "Listen" page at http://www.planetnerve8.com/ or simply click the title of this blog)

This begs the question “What is Progressive Rock?”

Once upon a time, that term would have meant the symphonic/classically influenced offerings of bands like King Crimson, Genesis and Yes. Today, the term seems to be getting applied to a much wider range material, often with a jazz fusion influence.

Common denominators?

• If you try dancing to a Progressive Rock song, people will assume you recently ingested some bad acid.

• You won’t find a “boom crack, boom-boom crack” drum pattern. Drum work is typically much more intricate.• Expect a tempo change (or two).

• Extreme likelihood of hearing musicians who purchased their first instruments more than three months ago.

• Songs fitting the radio format of 3 to 4 minutes in length are few and far between.

• The standard song structure (verse – verse – chorus – verse – chorus – solo – chorus – chorus – end) is very seldom seen. Much more complexity to the writing and general structure.

• Music voted least likely to be heard on commercial radio.

In short, this is music that demands some observation and digesting. If ‘regular’ rock is a cold beer on a hot day, Progressive Rock is a fine bottle of wine. It may be an acquired taste that takes some time to appreciate, not something to be ‘chugged’ then smash the container against one’s forehead. (Connoisseurs of microbrewery products are exempt from this apparent trashing of ‘regular beer’. Hey – if it’s hot enough and the beer is cold enough, who cares?)

The featured artists:

Off the top:
Excerpt from “Cinema” by Yes. A passing of the torch, if you will, from the ‘old guard’ to the new. Great piece (cool video available on YouTube of Yes performing this at a concert in London in 2004 for the Prince’s Trust. Trevor Rabin and Steve Howe both on guitar). The very first song we ever played on our station.

Dreamscape (Munich Germany)
“When shadows are gone”
Probably the most ‘instantly accessible’ song in the set. Sliding between progressive, rock and metal, this is a well crafted song with great energy and awesome playing and vocals.

The Flower Kings (Sweden)
“There is more to this world”
This is more in the realm of ‘traditional’ progressive rock. The song moves through a variety of ‘feels’ and tempos. It brings up memories of Emerson Lake and Palmer, partly from the keyboards, but also from vocals that are, at times, eerily reminiscent of Greg Lake. You’ll also think that Steve Howe (Yes) makes a guest appearance. However, they accomplish this without sounding derivative. Very original piece. Very enjoyable.

Dave Hart (Vancouver Island, Canada)
“Do it again”
Guitarist Dave Hart has a new album just released. Most of the material involves unique texturing creating solely on guitar (with the help of a guitar synthesizer). Primarily in the atmospheric style of “New Age” music, this particular piece spans a wide gap from atmospheric to material verging on metal. Some pushing the envelope guitar virtuosity here!

Piel de Canto (Almeria, Spain)
Excerpt from “10 Piezas Minimas”
This is album is a collection of pieces that all flow together. The excerpt we have chosen is a short piece that opens with chimes that almost sound atonal until you hear the pattern. Moody, underlying synth pads ultimately give way to guitar work with a decidedly ‘middle eastern’ feel. Then the drums kick in and watch out!

Ozric Tentacles (somewhere in the wilds of the west of England)
“Coily”
If the synth pattern off the top is ‘too much for you’, hang in there. About a minute and a half in, the song settles into an awesome groove with some outstanding guitar work. Truly impeccable playing from every instrument. Strong jazz fusion influences.

Marc Norgaard (Baltimore, USA)
“Papaya Dream”
Marc is a very talented session player (drums) who writes his material on guitar then brings in his “friends” to play ‘the other bits’ so he can focus on the drums. Friends include, on guitars, Frank Gambale (Chick Corea Elektric Band), Brett Garsed (Planet X), on piano Steve Hunt (Alan Holdsworth) and Dave DeMarco (Oblivion Sun) on bass. Very jazzy feel to this piece with a tempo twist towards the end. Very cool piece.

Godsticks (Wales, UK)
“Puppy Gardener”
For me, this was an “acquired taste”. Wasn’t blown away on first listen but I recognized that this was a band with serious chops and strong vocals so gave them a few more listens. With each listen, I liked them more. This song has a very jazz influenced feel. Uptempo front end to the song but the back third settles into a mesmerizing groove with some very tasty guitar work. Very worth getting to know!

Transatlantic (USA/UK)
Excerpt from “All of the above”
A veritable Progressive Rock supergroup with members from both sides of the Atlantic, this band features Mike Portnoy (Dream Theatre), Neal Morse (Spock’s Beard), Pete Trewavas (Marillion) and Roine Stolt (Flower Kings). This excerpt features a great ‘dream state’ groove that evolves as the song progresses, guaranteed to draw you in, as well as classic vocal harmonies. A tiny slice from a remarkable album.

Special thanks to Steve Finley from The Guitar Repair Centre who originally turned me on to three of the featured artists (Transatlantic, The Flower Kings and Ozric Tentacles).

To listen, select Archive 38 off the "Listen" page at http://www.planetnerve8.com/ or simply click the title of this blog.

Cheers,
Michael

My own medicine

2008-05-18T23:17:00.000-07:00

May 18/08

Vancouver just finished hosting the annual New Music West event, a showcase featuring up and coming artists from the Vancouver area and around the world. This year saw 265 artists spread out over 24 venues around the city over a four day period.

This show features two of the bands I had a chance to see live (Firebug and Versus the Nothing) as well as a cross-section of new and vintage artists.

The show title comes from me forcing myself to spend an evening at a showcase of material that I don't normally listen to (metal). I actually had a great time!

As we haven't played anything bluesy for a while, we open up with a couple of blues influenced pieces by Amit Riff and Steve Lukather. Also included: a Led Zeppelin cut I haven't listened to in years that reminded me of how powerful their music was. We also play two bands out of Toronto that have caught my ear (Dream Aria and Parker) plus some great progressive rock from Flaming Bess and Presence.

Enjoy!

Cheers,

Michael

Too much to think

2008-05-05T22:53:00.000-07:00

Once again, we get to showcase some great work from around the world.

Most of the artists are from the last five years. The exception is a real treat for fans of Pink Floyd (and fans of great music, for that matter). We include in this show an excerpt from the concert Floyd guitarist David Gilmour put on last fall at London's Royal Albert Hall featuring some very interesting guests. This show features a classic Pink Floyd song with David Bowie handling the vocals and some brilliant guitar work from David Gilmour.

Also in the show:
From Los Angeles, Firebug. Great band and they're in Vancouver May 14/15 as part of New Music West.
Moon Stereo. You'll never guess where this band is from but you'll be happy you listened to them. Progressive/jazz feel.
Mute Math. Amazing blending of the melody of pop with the energy of rock.
Pocketful. 'Sit back and think' music from Sweden.
Porcupine Tree. Progressive Rock? Zeppelin meets Floyd? Outstanding material.
Sophya Baccini. Another example of outstanding writing/performance/production.
The Fab. Instrumental from Italy with some very interesting guitar work.
The Trews. Great 'top down' driving song.
Voodoo Johnson. Brit Rock. Coming to a colisseum near you!

Enjoy the show!

Cheers,
Michael

Around the World - Reprise

2008-04-22T16:58:00.000-07:00

This show is truly a milestone for us. We finally get to release a show as a podcast!

People have been asking us for this since Day One. Unfortunately, to include music in a podcast requires permission from many different parties such as the artist, the publishing company and the record label. Something most members of the industry establishment are very reluctant to do.

However, with this show, we found a group of brilliant artists who all owned title to their music and recordings and were therefore able to grant permission. These are artists and independent lables that see the digital world as "an opportunity" not as "something to be feared".

We start off with Marillion, one of the pioneers of the movement amongst artists to take their career into their own hands. (Visit their site at www.marillion.com). Brilliant and diverse writing as well as very seasoned playing and production. The third song also features Marillion though exhibiting a very different style.

In between, we feature Klimt 1918. This is a band from Rome with a tremendous ability to blend high energy with melodic writing.

Next, it's Flaming Bess from Duesseldorf, Germany. This is a band with a remarkable pedigree and exhibiting the best of progressive rock. Very tasty playing all round. Love it!

Then it's off to Israel and the instrumental guitar work of Amit Riff. This song starts off slow and restrained but about half way through, the backing guitar starts a new groove which the lead guitar builds on. Very compelling and brilliant playing.

Up next, St. Louis's Eric Stadler. I don't know what label to apply here. Very intense piece of work with great technical mastery. Definitely something that commands your undivided attention!

The show closes with two bands that you are FOR SURE going to hear more of: Britain's Voodoo Johnson and Southern California's Souljourners.

Both bands offer the "full package": unique writing, great vocals, great playing, great recording.
Expect to see both these bands headling some big shows within the next two years.

To download the podcast, please click here.

As always, we thank you for listening!

Cheers,

Michael

Around the world in 60 minutes

2008-03-30T22:18:00.000-07:00

Today's upload, "Around the world in 60 minutes", represents an important milestone in the evolution of planetnerve8.

This show is the first time we have included artists from outside the 'North America/British Isles axis'. It is also the first time we have included artists without formal recording contracts (or artists with European contracts but no North American distribution). The styles range from pop to hard rock and 'a bunch' in between.

For those listeners looking for a "consistant feed" of music, we are hard at work getting ready to launch our 24/7 streaming where the tunes will be a bit more predictable.

However, one of our founding beliefs was that there is a vast quantity of great material being produced in a wide variety of genres from a wide selection of countries that most people simply are not getting exposed to. This show, I believe, comes the closest so far to addressing that issue.

It's unlikely that you will fall in love with every song but if you listen all the way through, I think it will be impossible for you to not come away impressed with how vibrant the world of music is today.

One last note: we set up a MySpace site last week (www.myspace.com/planetnerve8).

On this site, you will have the ability to comment on the shows as well as find links to featured artists.

Thanks, as always, for your support!

All the best,
Michael

50/50

2008-03-09T22:51:00.000-07:00

This show is split into two very different halves.

The first section is very bluesy and opens with Kenny Wayne Shepherd. Here, we also pay tribute to two artists who passed away recently, Buddy Miles and Jeff Healy. Buddy Miles played drums in the shortlived but brilliant Jimi Hendrix project "Band of Gypsies." Jeff Healey, blind from the age of one, had a highly unique playing style, placing his guitar on his lap and pressing down the strings without wrapping his hand around the neck. Worth checking "See the light" on YouTube.
This section includes two classic cuts from Humble Pie and a Rolling Stones cut with a great, almost reggae-like groove.

The second section is more "melody oriented" and features material off the most recent album by Marillion. I just purchased the album last week and it's one of the most consistent albums I've heard in a long time.
In addition to their very considerable skills in the areas of writing and production, Marillion is very much on the leading edge of adapting to the digital world. They own their own record label and offer open-source downloads off their website (one of the most well designed and informative websites from any band, I might add). Very innovative band all around.

This section closes with a beautiful piece by former Genesis guitarist Steve Hackett featuring the ethereal vocals of Sally Oldfield (sister of Tubular Bells' Mike Oldfield).

The second section is material that you can really be absorbed by and definitely grows on you with repeated listens.

Cheers,

Michael

Living room to Wembley

2008-02-22T13:35:00.000-08:00

This show starts and ends with a bang.

Opening cut is a pleasant little ditty :) from Nine Inch Nails. Closing cut is wretched guitar excess: Brian May captured live at Wembley (whence comes part of this show's title) at the peak of Queen's popularity performing the extended solo from Brighton Rock. Not something you're likely to hear at the next wedding reception you attend but a "must listen" for Brian May fans.

In between, we offer some fare with broader appeal, including a song from Manic Street Preachers that will linger with you, and a couple of experiments.

Experiment 1. We recently received our first promo CD in the mail (thank you Nettwerk Records - see note at end of post). The artist: Griffin House. The material: a little more rootsy/country than I'd normally listen to but three songs caught my attention. I've selected two for the show and would be curious to hear your thoughts on this material. Send me an email.

Experiment 2. We play a couple of stripped down acoustic tracks that don't fit the "rock format" yet each has a certain appeal. The first (from Stephen Stills) has an interesting story behind it and is very raw. It sounds like he set up a microphone in his living room (whence comes the other part of this show's title) and layed it down in one take. Raw yet memorable. The second is a short acoustic instrumental from Canada's Bruce Cockburn. Again, would love to hear your thoughts on these songs.

Finally, before Brian takes the stage, we have something for history buffs. A rare cut from a long forgotten British power trio whose guitar player, for a brief period, was giving the big guns from Deep Purple and Black Sabbath a stiff challenge as THE guitar player to watch.

A little more eclectic show than normal.

Hope you like it.

Side note: Nettwerk Records started as a small indie label in a basement office in Vancouver. Their first 'big hit' was signing a young unknown singer from the maritimes by the name of Sara McLachlan. Today, as major labels sink in a sea of red ink and layoffs, Nettwerk is growing in leaps and bounds. Between their record label, publishing and management divisions, they represent a very broad cross-section of artists including Sara McLachlan, Barenaked Ladies, Avril Lavigne, Dido, Sum 41, Delerium, The Cardigans, The Finn Brothers and a whole host of other artists, including many 'indie' artists. What's the secret of their success? Unlike many established segments of the music industry, Nettwerk founder, Terry McBride, embraces change rather than fears it. As such, they have been very open to alternative revenue streams as CD revenue dies a not so slow death. Notably, they financed the defence costs of a teenager (and her family) who was being sued by the major labels for file-sharing music.

For information on Nettwerk, visit http://www.nettwerk.com/ and if you want cutting edge insight on where the industry is going, check out http://www.savethemusicfan.com/.

Cheers,

Michael

Transitions

2008-02-22T12:22:00.000-08:00

Well, this show got somewhat orphaned. Uploaded on Jan 26 and no reference until late February. My apologies.

This show opens with a cut from the most recent Tears for Fears album (Everybody loves a happy ending) which sees Roland Orzabal re-united with original collaborator Curt Smith (hence the album's title?). A second TFF cut highlights both their great vocal capabilities as well as their exceptional attention to detail when it comes to production. The second cut, in particular, has a production style reminiscent of The Beatles/George Martin.

Next, a truly beautiful piece off the the newest Crowded House album. If you don't 'get it' the first time, have another listen. This will really grow on you.

The beginning section ends with the title cut off Sting's Soul Cages. Great feel.

We then visit the "Progressive Rock" arena with a few cuts from Yes and Genesis, the first of which is a live acoustic cut from Yes' Steve Howe.

The final section features 'Marshall's on 11'. Straight ahead guitar rock.

The first track is, I believe, the song Led Zeppelin opened their last North American tour with (saw them in Seattle at the Kingdom - before the roof collapsed). From there, on to Britain's Stone Roses, a sadly under-recognized band.

We close with two cuts from brilliant guitar virtuoso Andy Timmons. He is a master at a wide variety of styles. A good friend of mine saw Andy in Las Vegas filling the role of guitar player (and music director) for Olivia Newton-John ( my friend was there simply to accompany his wife and said the guitar player was the only part of the show that caught his attention). The two cuts we feature are about as far removed from mainstream pop as you could possible get. The first is a very laid back jazzy cut while the second has to rank amongst the fastest possible guitar playing humanly possible.

Let us know what you think!

Cheers,

Michael

No Borders

2008-01-16T17:01:00.000-08:00

Having had a few days to let Sunday's show, (No Borders), sink in, it's really starting to grow on me. There were quite a few last minute changes (long story) so it didn't end up quite as planned but (speaking very personally!), I like the blend of material from relatively new artists and newer material from veterans.

The show starts with a straight-ahead rocker from Britain's Kasabian. Up next is an extended cut from The Stone Roses. This song takes a while to get going but be patient. It has a great blend of percussive groove with rock. The following songs feature the distinctive vocals of Chris Cornell (Audioslave) and Matthew Bellamy (Muse).

Our first "featured artist" is Colin Hay. Colin first came to prominence in the early eighties as singer/songwriter with Australia's "Men at Work" ("Who can it be now", "Down Under"). It was a listener who turned me on to his current solo material (which has been featured in the soundtracks to "Scrubs" and "Garden State"). I'm still catching up on his material but am really enjoying his gift for songwriting, especially the storytelling of his lyrics. (He also has a 'Barenaked Ladies' sense of humour when it comes to lyrics). Colin is on tour on the US east coast in April/May and then hops over to BC and Alberta in July/August. Very worth catching! Check his website for details: http://www.colinhay.com/

From Colin, we move to a true surprise (for me): Rik Emmett. Rik is probably best known as singer/guitar player for Canadian power trio Triumph. He has grown into a remarkably versatile artist. The cut we selected is an acoustic piece that is as far removed from 'power trio' as you could possibly imagine. Rik is also on tour. Check: http://www.rikemmett.com/.

We follow Rik with a cut that might suggest we're 'Living in the past': a brilliant, acoustic based cut from a classic band (you'll have to listen to find out who).

The show closes with an artist that never ceases to amaze me: Jeff Beck. The first cut has a great groove to it (and a very wide dynamic range - if you don't have a lot of bass on your speakers, you may think the song has stopped at a couple of points). His ability to pull sounds out of a guitar that I don't hear anyone else doing is quite remarkable. You will find yourself wondering when he's using a bottleneck and when he's doing wild string bends coupled with skilled use of the vibrato bar. The second cut is a live blues cut. Listen to the nuances he puts into each note. Amazing! On one note, he bends the string so much you wonder how the neck didn't snap, let alone the string. Still producing cutting edge material after all these years!

Cheers,

Michael

Year end show

2008-01-02T19:54:00.000-08:00

By the skin of our teeth, we managed to get the year's final show (Archive 13 Beaucoup Entendu) uploaded on New Year's eve (with special thanks to Jay VP, a Vancouver based recording engineer with a growing international reputation, who helped trouble-shoot a ridiculously stupid techie problem of my own creation at the last minute!).

With most of the shows, I like to present a cross-section of material in the hope of turning someone on to an artist/song they hadn't heard before.

This show is an exception. With other stations producing their "Top 500 songs of all time" countdowns, I decided to take a (heavily biased) look back at artists that have had a major impact on me personally and the music industry in general. You will no doubt be familiar with most of the artists but the song choices may be different from what you'd see on most 'best of' lists. In most cases, I chose the songs that locked me in as a fan. I'll be curious to hear your thoughts on the choices!

Also included are two songs that were a large part of the impetus to launch this station. In particular, the final cut of the show is a 17 minute instrumental that would most likely never see the light of day on a conventional station. Not an instantly catchy pop/rock tune. Instead, a song that takes its time to draw you in. If you give it a chance to get under your skin, you will find yourself returning to it over and over.

All the best for the new year!

Michael

In the beginning

2007-12-28T16:57:00.000-08:00

Welcome to our first post! 2007 saw a lot of groundwork come to fruition as we finally 'flipped the switch' and declared planetnerve8 'on air' in early September.

With our goal of exposing material that is not typically heard on conventional radio stations, this blog will be the forum where we can provide more background on the artists/material we are highlighting. This will also be the venue where listeners can provide feedback on the material played.

The music industry is undergoing huge change right now. This is a very exciting time for people who really care about music as technology has opened up both the means of production and the means of distribution so no longer is a talented musician forced to go cap in hand to a major label. Can't get a record deal? No problem. Do it yourself. While I think the majors will continue to have a vital role to play, the nature of that role will shift rapidly. Instead of "selling CD's", it will shift more to exposing their artists to the public and investigating innovative ways to 'monetize music.'

We hope to also discuss these changes in this forum.

Cheers,
Michael