Stunflower
A Million Years


Psychedelic funky reggae warriors Thomas and Devaki had been playing music together since their teens. Enjoying a flash music career that rubbed shoulders with icons such as Jon Anderson from Yes, and Jon and Vangelis, plus Buffy St. Marie including many others, these professional class musicians rock n rolled with the best of them. Life has many twists and turns, and indeed it did for this pair. Settling down to have a family became a priority for both of them so the music became a fond memory. That was just for a time though, and once they had done their duty it was only right to blow the dust off the guitars. Teaming up with bass player Alex Barrett, the guys now known as Stunflower release their brand new sound and single.


It starts on a classic guitar wail. Bottle-necked notes flow like a twinkling river and vocals lap the shores. Fragile melody spills over in tangents and splashy harmonics, organs and guitar build up and roll down in plentiful gushes of sound. It points at a deep sadness, a sense of eternal woe built up over the course of many millennia. A dreamy melancholy of the soul extends like a hologram into the realms of infinite sorrow, it's a moving and sombre number that also has a sense of hope. Maybe the sad times are all but over? Is this a moment of change in life, where the dreams of brokenness come to an end? It's a beautiful song, full of human feeling and musical moments of clarity.


Visit Stunflower online


Then follow them on Facebook


Twitter


and Instagram

Maisie Bourke
Don't Leave Me Without Your Love
From Act Your Age


Since she was eleven, Maisie Bourke has been producing her own songs. Writing, recording, and mixing herself into a music career from an early age has helped her achieve a remarkable talent. Her new EP wants to explore the art of growing up and finding our feet in the world. Called Act Your Age, it perhaps asks us to look at ourselves with less than rose tinted glasses. What is maturity anyway? Is it simply about how we learn to cope with the world? And what if the world we grow up in changes when we're older somehow and what we have learned doesn't help but hinder? It's a complicated paradox when we grow up, it feels that we are all children inside with our own methods of dealing with being who we are. Don't Leave Me Without Your Love is one song from this EP. Featured as a single, you'll be able to catch it on the Deuce Radio Show.




It starts with a subtle organ tone, calmly breathing in a silent room. Maisie begins to sing, her fantastic voice trickles over the icy-cube notes and as a thick liquor, she begins to fill the glass. Then, when a vital point is reached, the flow swells to capture us with the chorus. High energy projection in the voice matches a push in the composition to bring the feelings to a new peak. Rhythm builds and throws in a catchy dance-step we can all get in the groove with. Repeating lines and fairy-tale lyrics about love and life spin a tale of imploring desire to stay close.


Listen to Don't Let Me Leave Without Your Love on Spotify


Follow Maisie Bourke on Twitter


and Instagram


Thanks for reading Alternative Fruit!
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Chiara Oldano
Fluorescently
From EP of same title


While at school, Chiara's teachers never gave her a second thought for a musical education. While feeding her academic subjects and appealing to her intellect, something underneath was brewing. Chiara didn't need school to learn a skill, and because it's what she knew she wanted to do, there was only herself in the way. Spending fifteen long years developing her craft, then later enrolling at musical college in Boston, USA, this flourishing London based singer-songwriter is ready to show what she's made of. It's fair to say that it was a mistake to not offer this composer and performer more arts at school. 


With an RnB influenced introduction, a synthesiser and mellow rhythm opens the number. A silky melody on delicious vocals laps over the bars like thick milk. Chiara Oldano brings up the heat as the words progress, evoking a self-confidence and inner optimism about our own role in life. We each have our own space to stand in, we have to own it for ourselves. Excellent projection of notes that dance and leap from perfectly posed scales knit the song together in a tightly woven and expertly written composition.


You can get involved with Chiara Oldano on Facebook


and Instagram


Get hold of the song on iTunes

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Amazon


and Amazon UK

Tobias
Gardenia
Out 22nd March


Emerging from heart-break is something we are all familiar with. When the bonds of love are broken, the hurt can be deep and painful. Tobias has managed to focus this energy from his own life to establish a song-writing streak resulting in many quality songs. Since falling out of love with his boyfriend a year ago, Tobias found that in music his heart lives on. Providing quality piano skills as well as alluring vocals, the mix of pop, electro, and cinematic styles combine to create his unique sound. Mixed by the untouchable Tommy Cuz, this Essex lad is ready and raring to go with his new track. Named after his favourite flower, the song is said to represent the fragility of beauty and life.


It starts on a delicate piano melody. Sparkling notes like raindrops patter over the bars. Chords fall into place, bolstering up the sound. There's a sadness and a dreamy story in the words, as melody builds and evolves emotions pour from the music. Descriptive lyrics tell of the sorrow and change involved with the story. Then, a new line of hope is drawn in the sand. New feelings of moving on knit themselves into the song. Helping to move on and bringing a human sense to the psycho-drama of love with music, Tobias has produced a marvellous composition. I am sure many people will love this, it's a sensual and emotive number that pulls on our most forgiving nature.


Look out for Gardenia by Tobias from the 22nd.


Tobias is on Soundcloud, follow him now and be one of the first to hear his new tracks.

​Thanks for reading Alternative Fruit! 
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The Skys
Communication
From Automatic Minds


Rock music all the way from Lithuania this week on Alternative Fruit, with Communication by The Skys. They've toured the world with several albums already, which have gained them much deserved critical acclaim. Their brand new album, Automatic Minds was mixed by Dom Morley, who you may remember for working with Amy Winehouse (signed stuff). Those same skills that brought home a Grammy for Dom Morley have gone into making this song and album one to remember. Mastered at Abbey Road Studios, the iconic music production house has seen many high-quality and career making albums pass through its gates.


With computer noises to begin the track, bleeps and tones swell to become guitar, bass and drum. Crazy keyboard fills hang from the rear pegs to dress the backdrop in vibrancy. A chorus on the vocals starts the song which then progresses into a funky verse with lush bass lines dripping from the bars. The transfer from verse to chorus is so seamless, it's as if a cylinder is rotating and, like a double helix, the elements of the track take it in turns to headline then gradually fade in and out. Cool and breezy guitar licks add a bluesy buoyancy and hollering Pink Floyd style female vocals decorate the cake with glorious luminescent icing. It's a great track that will no-doubt be part of a fantastic rock album.


Catch up with The Skys online


Facebook


and Twitter

You might enjoy this: ​
Abbey Road: The Story of the World's Most Famous Recording Studios by Omnibus Press

Christopher Taylor
Counting Bluebirds


Since his award winning Chasing Rainbows EP, Christopher Taylor has been enjoying the warmth of BBC and commercial radio play. Picking up the trophy for best pop rock EP and accolades for two tracks from it, Christopher Taylor is building an increasing fan-base from all over the UK and beyond. Previously mentioned on Alternative Fruit last year, this Yorkshire resident is really putting the North on the musical map with his consistent quality of sound.


He begins with a plucked tune and a happy go lucky melody on the vocals. A story-line feel to the words encourages us to listen. A compression in the sound brings everything to a peak, the harmonies and rhythm combining to form a delicate yet strong delivery. It's a love song, the imagery and metaphors dress the music like abstract shirts. The music is made up of skilled musical composition on a simple and effective bass, guitar, and drum combination. The clean yet warmed up feel to the mix brings Christopher Taylor just that little bit nearer.


Go and visit Christopher Taylor on his website
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and find him on Twitter

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Youtube


and Soundcloud

Sophie Griffiths
Beauty


Like so many quality singers, Sophie Griffiths began her career in the bathroom. During her private time, Sophie would simply enjoy using her voice. It was only until a music teacher showed encouragement and put her in a school performance when Sophie realised her voice was a cut above the rest. It wasn't long before she was out and about, demonstrating what she can do. Then, as if by magic, a star of the screen by the name of Olivia Buckland from the hit series Love Island stumbled across Sophie while she was busking. Immediately impressed, this highly followed celebrity decided to make an Instagram video of the performance. Doing the right thing, and tagging the artist, Sophie's phone went haywire! This led to BBC radio play and a new single recorded at the legendary SAFO Studios in London.


It starts with a ghostly piano melody, the crackle of dusty vinyl burning slowly in the background. Sophie starts to sing and it's evident she has a lot of power behind her vocal cords. A solid and melodious voice tells a story, revealing a journey of self within self. Looking into the soul of another and seeing the patterns of the universe takes us to a realm of beauty. This short song is a little dose of clarity in a magical realm of feeling.


Listen to Beauty by Sophie Griffiths on Soundcloud


Follow Sophie Griffiths on Facebook


Twitter

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and Instagram