Posts in tag

United States


There’s several reasons why you really shouldn’t let the release of ‘Guided To The Panoramic Merge’ pass you by as the year fades out. First it’s the inaugural collaboration between erstwhile post rock guitarist of significance and more recently electronic sound-scaper, Dustin Wong and emerging folktronica voice Ari Liloia. Secondly it’s on A Red Thread, …

This feels a bit like Light In The Attic territory but the wonderful Soundway Records have scooped a real lost gem here. They’ll be re-releasing the one and only self-titled album by Circus Underwater from 1984 and coming to shelves near you in newly mastered form on 15th September. It’s a record that’s long been …

The duo Sylvan Esso

Sylvan Esso will release their new album No Rules Sandy on 12th August 2022 via Loma Vista Recordings. This weekend they surprised the audience at the Newport Folk Festival in the US, with a live performance of the project in its entirety. Amelia Meath and Nick Sanborn have marked the official launch stating that No …

A shot in the arm to protect you against those early-winter blues. Filmed in the nearly-empty city of Shaniko, progressively deserted after the railroad moved on, this single is taken from the Portland, Oregon band’s debut album “Keep It Safe”.  Singer Danielle Sullivan walks with a sway down 5th Street, past This Ole House, turning …

The early nineties: years of massive change in my listening habits and, really, a first proper awakening to music, fuelled by the powerful indie spirit of both UK and US alternative rock scenes. To be honest though, I probably wouldn’t have known as much about it if it hadn’t been for the huge ambitions of some of …

Love it ! Although this is beginning to disturb me. The hit ratio for music coming out of Portland, Oregon is ludicrous. I was just reading about the latest developments for Just Lions and saw that they had made it onto the PDX Pop Now ! compilation of local artists. So I figured that I …

“I’m gonna be Molotov !” (none of the images contained in this article were shot in my house…) It’s just as well that Tift Merritt came round for dinner. Worrying about the cooking stopped me being so nervous about talking to her. How did this come about ? Well, it’s a tale of jetlag, Oliver’s …

This is good-time music. It’s got everything that you need: bendy, blues- and rock’n’roll-infused guitars, confident  brass, an unobtrusive but muscular rhythm section, a strong and soulful vocalist, and a good understanding of how to write coherent, tuneful, ass-shaking, country rock. This five-piece, who have been together for around a decade, hail from Port Angeles, …

Continuing our love affair here on Backseat Mafia with the Vancouver, Washington band Foreign Talks we recently interviewed drummer Kevin Downes and guitarist Tanner Steinmetz. The release of that debut album is getting ever closer by the way – only a week or so to go…. Backseat Mafia: What made you start playing music ? …