Review: The Devine Xperience Release Self-Titled Album

Eccentric electronic group the Devine Xperience take the genre of dubstep and fuse it with trance and acid, all bound together with a number of political messages. The Los Angeles based band is made up of Robert Devine, Vanessa Garic and Enki Siruzis, a galatic group who perform live and aim to connect with their listeners. 

Devine said 

"I try to take listeners on a journey into their innermost senses, almost as though I am acting as a musical shamen of sorts...I wanted this project to be unexpected and purposely aimed for it to be almost completely unmarketable due to not fitting into any predetermined genre."

Devine Xperience is a unique listening within itself in which a number of contraversial subjects are addressed. In a Dream and Completely in a Trance contain heavy dub singed with trance, and I personally loved the synth tones to UFO-themed tracks Alien Love Truth and Alien Dust. 

Garic's haunts the majority of the tracks with her soft and melodious voice, and finishing the album with a heavy dub, gothic song Touch the Sky, it is apparent the album is definitely suited to those wishing to reject all mainstream dub and retreat to the stripped down, metallic throbs. 

Watch single 'Completely in a Trance' 

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Hydrothermal Vents Release Debut Album 'Secrets of the Deep'

Deep-sea duo The Hydrothermal Vents will release debut album 'Secrets of the Deep!' in July and may draw their inspiration from nature, but their other-worldly sounds are undeniable. 

Members John Tielli and Tessa Kautzman experiment with a chemical concoction of post-punk, dance and a sprinkling of rock, finishing off with bags of energy and some pretty impressive guitar solos and if their new album is anything to go by, this pair have a promising future. Wild and unpredictable, I thoroughly enjoyed the Montreal-based band's accidental lyrics and for those looking for a perfect vocal pairing, this album is for you. 

Playful synth greets the listener in first track Inside a Movie, as Tielli and Kautzman juxtapose vocal tones and pair them effectively with true experimental spirit. Do the Vent exudes cheeky rock and it's infectious beat had me pressing repeat. Their aim to create a retro track that was in itself a unique song came in the form of Shark! a harmonious, punchy piece of indie reminiscent of Pixies. 

Hydrothermal Vents slowed the tempo of the album, adding rock tones and combining them with maritime-themed lyrics and haunting melodies. Indie track Neptune's Grave was by far my favourite track, with the fitting metaphor 'We're gonna dive to the bottom. We will unearth the secrets of the deep' that contained addictive build-ups and punk tones that juxtaposed Kautzman's ethereal voice. 

Shawn Allison photography

Attento and Fish Out of Land are the perfect driving tunes and the collection really is for someone who yearns for mid-tempo music that encompasses a number of genres. It seems the pair have really grasped what their band name means: a mysterious energy that is a source of light in the darkness (of chart music). 

The Hydrothermal Vents are set to release their album on July 5th and will begin their North American tour shortly after. 

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Album Review: Monks of Mellonwah's Turn the People

In my quest for a new alternative rock band to get excited about, I stumbled across Monks of Mellonwah. The Sydney-based group won prestigious awards back in 2012 at the AIM and LA Music Awards and are back with new album Turn the People released in March which has already been dubbed 'one of the top releases of 2014' by Popmatters.

Tiring of bands like Muse and Coldplay, Monks of Mellonwah were welcome listening, their progressive and eclectic style a brilliant alternative to the conveyor belt of pop that seems to consume our charts. 

Turn the People is an Indie delight. Beginning with the harmonious, soft-rock Ghost Stories, a song which changes tempo three quarters of the way through to reveal a frantic, guitar-heavy solo as a taster of what is to come. Vanity's infectious beat combined with lead singer Vikram Kaushik supple melodies keeps the listener pressing repeat. 

The haunting Tear Your Hate Apart had a wonderful juxtaposition between electronic undertones, piano solos and soft vocals, any fans of One Republic will love this track even more. Pulse continues the electro feel, a definite summer track if you haven't found yours yet. 

A collision of creativity is created in Alive for a Minute and for those looking for an alt rock mix, opt for metaphor-heavy Escaping Alcatraz or feel-good Sailing Stones with its powerful guitar riffs. 

Turn the People's initial melancholic beginning, progresses to a crescendo of rapidity with fabulously progressive plucking and drumming. Muse fans should head to Downfall and Afraid to Die for some heavy, yet charming tracks. 

I Belong to You is an acoustic delight hidden within the album, a real love song before the conclusion of the collection with Sky and the Dark Night Part 2, a harmonious, love-sick instrumentally-clever number that's the perfect ending to a strong album that deserves a lot more credit.

Monks of Mellonwah will be visiting the US for the 3rd time, with their tour dates being:

Passport Approved (A&R Worldwide Tour, Monks of Mellonwah headlining 
with guests Lime Cordiale, Hamish Anderson & Giorgi + Leo )

June 6th - Last Exit Live, Phoenix, 9PM
June 9th - Viper Room, West Hollywood, 8 PM
June 10th - The Standard, Fresno, 8 PM
June 11th - The Atrium @ The Catalyst, Santa Cruz, CA , 9 PM
June 12th - The Boardwalk, Orangevale, CA, 8PM
June 13th - Doug Fir, Portland, OR, 8 PM
June 14th - Bodega Nightclub, Reno, NV, 8 PM
June 17th - Crocodile, Seattle, WA, 8 PM

w/Scott Stapp
June 20th - Chameleon Club, Lancaster, PA
June 21st - The Emporium, Patchogue, NY
June 24th - Latitude Live, Pittsburgh, PA
June 25th - The Chance, Poughkeepsie, NY
June 28th - The Machine Shop, Flint, MI
June 29th - Buster's Billiards & Backroom, Lexington, KY
July 1st - Gillioz Theatre, Springfield, MO
July 2nd - Neumeier's Rib Room & Beer Garden, Fort Smith, AR

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Album Review: Lael Summer's Burden to Bear

For those of you yearning for a Nora Jones-sized hole to fill, Lael Summer has all you could want and more.  Born and raised in New York City, the singer confessed that at such a young age the feeling of being surrounded by millions of people yet feeling lost and alone was evident, an element of inspiration that oozes from her music.

Debut album Burden to Bear is a soulful, often melancholic collection of songs that was released in January and after being signed by True Groove Records, Summer talked about how she went about writing the album.

"Burden to Bear is especially precious to me because it is my first album; it's my baby. During the writing process I had the freedom to explore all these facets of my identity I never really acknowledged or could make sense of. I picked through my thoughts, my dreams, my nightmares, conversations, observations and memories and used the fragments of my life to piece together something I could share with others."

Beginning the album with feisty soul number I Need a Man the collection leads into groove-influenced Too Much. You're So Small is full of strengthening lyrics, but it's soft jazzy undertones are odd and the message of the song does not gel. Make You Whole switches the tempo comfortably easing the listener into a smooth ballad before resuming it's now rather droll In Time and Kiss and Tell. 

An album that seemed to have a promising start then adopts a far from eclectic mix of genres but is rescued by Do What You Want, Be What You Are, a melodic and soulful number that captures the freedom of a young woman. 

Although stilted in places for me, the album possessed an immense amount of feeling which I am sure many of her listeners are inspired by and her precocious, otherworldly tone will take her far in the industry. 

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Girls Rule: Top 5 Must Listens this Month

//The movie soundtrack//

5. Charli XCX- Boom Clap 

Once you've headed to the cinema, cried profusely and wiped the snot from your nose after a viewing of The Fault in Our Stars, listen to Charli XCX's official single for the movie, Boom Clap. A mid-tempo, feel good love song from a young singer that is going from strength to strength. 

//For anyone getting tired of up-beat dance.. //

4. Cheryl Cole- Crazy Stupid Love 

Forget the silly roses that reside on her derrière combined with the fact that she hasn't produced material in AGES, as it's fair to say that Cheryl Cole always seems to deliver. Okay, so her vocal abilities are fairly limited, but boy is this new saxy single catchy, and understated. Everyone's favourite Geordie is releasing the song on July 20th, a track which features Tinie Tempah. I have to say I'm excited for the video if that gold bodysuit on her Instagram is anything to go by. Not a fan? just give it a listen, I promise you will like it. 

//rap meets pop//

3. Ariana Grande ft Iggy Azalea- Problem 

What do you get when you combine the cutest thing to ever happen to pop, and the baddest chick around? a cheeky, sassy single that will keep you pressing repeat.  Problem is a lot of fun and exudes girl power, the '60s themed video makes it a thousand times better too. Give it a listen. 

//Melancholic beauty//

2. BANKS- Drowning

I find myself constantly asking myself why, if everyone loves Lana Del Rey, do they not love BANKS more. She haunts me with her perfect, smooth and melancholic voice and I loved this mid-tempo electronic track. She really can do no wrong and I can't wait for her to make it big, she totally deserves it. 

//The Queen is back//

1. Nicki Minaj - Pills N Potions 

Twitter pretty much blew up last week when Nicki Minaj announced she was releasing her new single Pills N Potions from new album Pink Print, to which she vowed the content would be heavily rap influenced- *excited squeal*. Minaj has bags of charm, with current song containing the perfect juxtaposition of lyric-spitting rhyme and a melodic chorus with real feeling. 

Lana Del Rey Releases Once Upon A Dream for Disney's Maleficent

With today's release of Disney's Maleficent;a re-imagining of the classic fairytale Sleeping Beauty, singer Lana Del Rey seems a fitting choice to perform the haunting signature track Once Upon A Dream which appears on the official score.

Written and composed by James Newton Howard who also provided the soundtracks for Hunger Games, Space Jam and Batman Begins, the CD can be previewed on Amazon here.

The singer's anticipated comeback began when she released the sultry West Coast a month ago along with Shades of Cool this week. Her second album Ultraviolence is set for release on 16th June in the UK in the midst of an interview last year in which she admitted running out of ideas for material.

Rihanna Taunts Teenage Fan For Wearing Similar Outfit to Her

Rihanna might be a (supposed) style icon, but she's far from the ideal role model if her latest stunt is anything to go on. The self-proclaimed bad girl joined a gang of cyber bullies as they proceeded to taunt 16 year-old Alexis Carter after she modelled a quirky outfit worn by the singer on the red carpet back in 2010. 



Being one of her biggest fans, Carter attempted to emulate the Alexandre Vauthier jumpsuit Rihanna donned for the Echo awards in Berlin, opting to wear a similar ensemble for her school prom. To her dismay, neither the internet or RiRi herself were impressed. 

Young people in the school began posting images of her on social media under the hashtag #PromBat, instead of Rihanna coming to the girl's defence, she decided to make fun of Carter on her own Twitter, retweeting the messages she found funniest. As well as this she created two images, one showing herself in the Vauthier outfit next to the 16 year-old in her outfit, and another with Carter next to the Wu-Tang iconic bat-esque logo. 

In a statement to Fox, Baltimore, Carter said:
"I was very offended. Why throw shade on it when you had on the exact same thing? The poses was different but the outfit wasn't. She don't love her fans like she says she does."

Proving her further maturity this week, the singer dyed her hair bright pink and proceeded to bombard Twitter with a number of selfies.. *yawn*

La Roux Releases New Single Let Me Down Gently and Confirms New Album

La Roux is back! 

After months of endless rumours, it has finally been confirmed that our favourite Brit-synth pop artist La Roux will be releasing her new album entitled Trouble in Paradise this July. 

She posted her comeback single Let Me Down Gently on her Youtube channel today, a slow-burning, 80's-esque single that sees her back at her best. 

Elly Jackson's dreamy vocals draw in the listener, and although she hasn't produced a single since her self-titled album back in 2009, this album will be highly anticipated. 

Listen to her new single here

Beyoncé and Jay Z Announce Their On The Run Summer Tour

The King of hip hop has joined forces with the Queen of pop as husband and wife Jay Z and Beyoncé will embark on their hugely anticipated summer tour of America this year. 

The pair are are set to play in thirteen cities across the US starting in Miami on June 25th, performing in places such as Philadelphia, Dallas, Toronto and Chicago before concluding in San Francisco on 5th of August. 

With a total of nine collaborative songs such as 'Drunk in Love' and the infamous 'Crazy in Love', the pair are pictured with balaclavas for the promotional photo, said to be reminiscent of their first collab, '03 Bonnie & Clyde'.

Bonnie and Clyde, keepin' it real. 

Named after their single 'Part II (On the Run)', exclusive tickets for the tour will be available to  Beyoncé's Beyhive fans tomorrow morning and general sale will begin on Friday. More dates are predicted to be added at a later time. 

Will you be buying tour tickets? 

Katy Perry Pranks the Public in New Video 'Birthday'

Katy Perry loves to embrace a theme and I fell in love with her toe-tapping single Birthday when I first listened to Prism. In her hilarious video released yesterday, she takes on a number of disguises and performs at an array of parties while members of the public look on in bewilderment.

As one of the hottest pop stars out there, Katy Perry could have easily donned a cute dress and sexily blown out some candles. But come on fellas, what's more attractive than a funny girl?

Taking on the role of the world's worst party planners, she becomes 5 characters.

Meet Goldee. The song 'Lady is a Tramp' is pretty much about her. Saggy in all the wrong places, she goes to an old person's home to reek havoc.

Ever had a rubbish MC at your party? I'm pretty sure Yosef  is worse. She kinda looks like Lionel Richie here. 

 Kriss the clown couldn't be worse at entertaining kids if she tried. Stealing children's presents and causing a car crash, the parents are far from impressed.

Everyone loves an animal entertainer, but Ace is unable to control the poor things, let them run wild around the children.

Princess Mandee is by far my favourite. The worst face painter in the world, she smears what looks like mud on poor unsuspecting girls at a small birthday party. 

My favourite part came when Perry apologised to the girls for being rubbish at her job, but taking off her wig and mask, the kids forgot as they screamed in joy when they realised it was Katy Perry. TOO.CUTE.

8 Minutes of fun and frolics, I loved Birthday. Check it out below.