Longing For Orpheus – Broken Down

Friday, February 25th, 2011

From The Artist:

Meredith Ruduski, the singer and co-writer of “Broken Down,” is a coloratura soprano…that is to say, a classically trained vocalist. I had the good fortune to be cast alongside her in a light opera a couple of years ago, around the same time I decided to try taking Longing for Orpheus in an Ambient Pop direction. I found myself pleasantly distracted in rehearsal after rehearsal by the pure, ethereal quality of her voice, so I asked her if she had any interest in non-classical music, and if she would be interested in collaborating on a song. Fortunately, she was.

Lyrics

All alone with the rain falling from my eyes
The stars shine clear and cold against the wet velvet sky
And as they fall to earth I try to understand why
A kiss from your lips should make me cry

Broken down, I’m broken down again
Featherlight in my dreams
Permeated with memories
Of your perfume, your sweet scent
Why did you leave me here
Broken down again

As I step outside myself, and watch the waters rise
I start to wonder what is real and what is my disguise
If I had the chance, would I still want to know why
I am bound to the earth as I watch you fly

I need you to breathe
I need you to see
I am lost within the space
Between reality and dreams

Credits

Released 20 February 2011
Derek Smootz – Synths and programming
Meredith Ruduski – Vocals

Website (LFO) | Website (Meredith) | Facebook

JES – Awaken

Thursday, February 24th, 2011

New video and single by JES, “Awaken”! In conjunction with the release of the single, JES is launched the AWAKEN Campaign to encourage people everywhere to do something positive. JES wrote the song “Awaken” about personal strength and embracing the beauty of life. JES is inviting fans to post photos and comments to her social networking sites of their own positive contributions.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube

Featured Angel: Becky Jean Williams

Wednesday, February 16th, 2011

Late Night Alumni: Ryan Raddon, Becky Jean Williams, John Hancock, Finn Bjarnson.

Finn Bjarnson stumbled upon Becky Jean Williams in the summer of 2003. “I had just been given a local Christmas CD that I had produced a couple tracks for,” Finn recalls, “and as I was listening through the tracks, there she was! Her beautiful voice and style immediately struck me.” A couple of phone calls later and they were in the studio together for the first time. “I had worked up this song called ‘Empty Streets’ and wanted to try her voice out on it…” Finn continues, “and it took off from there!”

Finn had already been working in the studio with Ryan Raddon (aka Kaskade), and soon Finn, Ryan, and Becky formed Late Night Alumni. In 2004, Hed Kandi made an offer to license and release a full length Late Night Alumni album. “At that point,” Finn says, “I knew the band was not ready. We were missing an element.” That missing element turned out to be John Hancock; a talented local producer with whom Finn had been trying to “find an excuse” to work with for years. The band was complete and hard at work at the debut Late Night Alumni album; mixing electronic and organic elements for a unique brand of chill that is easily distinguishable in today’s down tempo house music scene.

“Empty Streets” came out in September of 2005. Around the same time, Hed Kandi was bought out by Ministry of Sound and the album got shelved. However, despite the label not working the album it soon grew into an underground classic. All around the world die-hard fans who supported “Empty Streets” spread the word of Late Night Alumni.

The single also entitled “Empty Streets” received massive support in both the clubs and on the radio getting Top Ten Radio Play in the UK and US, and reaching #1 in Spain. “Empty Streets” has also been licensed to commercials including a spot for the Toyota IQ. Plus, more than a dozen of the world’s biggest dance compilations have licensed the track, and it remains the most popular and downloaded song on Tietso’s “In Search Of Sunrise” compilation.

Finally, four years later, Late Night Alumni is releasing its sophomore album. “Of Birds, Bees, Butterflies, Etc.” picks up were “Empty Streets” left off. Signed to Ultra Records, Late Night Alumni is poised to get its music out to a larger audience and to reconnect with those who have already fallen in love with their ethereal brand of house music.

Check out Late Night Alumni’s latest release:
Haunted

More On Late Night Alumni:
Website | Facebook | Twitter (Band) | Twitter (Becky)

Late Night Alumni – Haunted

Wednesday, February 16th, 2011

Late Night Alumni’s 3rd album, ‘Haunted’, is now available to purchase! Above is one of the glorious tracks from the album, titled ‘Epilogue’, featuring Becky Jean Williams. ‘Haunted’ was released as a digital download on February 8, 2011. During the recording process, the group hoped to create a different dynamic by physically working together through most of the process rather then being isolated and using electronic communication methods to collaborate. The name of the album was inspired by ideas of being haunted by nostalgia and memories from the past while dealing with change in the present, although the old character of the undisclosed location in Salt Lake City where they recorded may have also influenced the title. –Wikipedia

Website | Facebook | Twitter

Conjure One – Exilarch

Tuesday, February 15th, 2011

Conjure One released their 3rd album, “Exilarch”, last November. Posted here are 3 songs from the album, “Like Ice”, “I Dream In Colour” and “Places That Don’t Exist”. You can hear all of these wide-ranging influences and experiences throughout Exilarch: The sounds of the Middle East on electronic symphonies “Nargis” and “Nomadic Code,” which nods to Massive Attack, but with a metallic smack that recalls Front Line Assembly. The Groban-like beauty of the vocals on the lavish and soaring “Zephyr.” The marriage of plaintive lyrics and elegant soundscapes on the haunting “The Distance” and first single “I Dream In Colour,” bringing to mind Delerium, but with a thicker synthetic cloud overhead. Featured vocalists that appear on “Exilarch” are Jaren Carf, Azam Ali, Leah Randi & Free Dominguez. –Nettwerk

Website | Label | MySpace | Facebook