Funke and the TwoTone Baby

The brilliantly named Funke and the Two Tone Baby is the alter ego of one-man band Daniel Turnbull. His weapons? His voice, a particularly dexterous octopus-worth of instruments and a stompbox. His sound? Pretty darn good.

Using subtly-integrated recorded loops, Turnbull creates energetic blues numbers with attitude. Squalls of harmonica, murky guitar licks and primal, stomping beats combine into a vivid backdrop for songs of love, loss and tribulation, sung in the world-weary voice of the tough yet sensitive troubador. But don't go thinking that Funke and the Two Tone Baby is an over-earnest homage to Americana – Turnbull's idiosyncratic voice and production touches are a reminder that his is a very 21^st century take on this oldest (and some might say over-subscribed) of genres.

While Turnbull's voice might occasionally be a little too mannered for some tastes, it's undeniable that his songs effectively capture the throaty thrill of the blues. From the harmonica-driven strut of “Darkest of Days” to the pained high emotion of “Now You See Me”, there is plenty of musical skill and emotional range to savour here, and you sense that Turnbull would be as home on some Deep South porch as he would be tearing up your local pubs and street corners, which gives the music a refreshing integrity. Definitely one to watch out for.

Review by Stefan Mohamed

Contact Funke and the Two Tone Baby!

funkeandthetwotonebaby@gmail.com

Sound of the Sirens

Sound of the Sirens are three young ladies from Exeter. Deserving winners of their home city's prestigious Battle of the Bands competition, the trio combine agile guitar-playing, soaring three-part harmonies and lyrical, heartfelt songwriting to make lushly melodic music. 

Their music contains elements of folk, country and soul, and should please fans of KT Tunstall, Stealing Sheep and nu-folk artists like Laura Marling and Mumford & Sons. Emotional without being mawkish, SOund of the Sirens evoke introspective walks in the countryside and romantic riverside dreams, and as great as their individual voices are, when they harmonise you may well feel a chill up your spine. As comfortable with well-chosen covers like Elbow's "One Day Like This" as they are with their own compositions, they are already developing a reputation as an excellent live act, so keep an eye out!

Review by Stefan Mohamed

Contact Sound of the Sirens!

thesoundofthesirens@hotmail.com

Reclaim the Skies review

  Reclaim the Skies are a Bournemouth-based quintet who are making a name for themselves amongst the pop-punk community. Although still a young band, they have supported well known acts such as A Loss for Words and This Time Next Year. The sound they have opted for is no doubt a pleasure to listen to for any pop-punk fan, combining the melodic hooks of bands such as U.S giants Hit the Lights and New Found Glory with the gang shouts and crushing power of fellow U.K. act Me vs Hero.


Of the four tracks that the lads have uploaded onto their facebook, I’d say that the stand out song for me would be “Sound the Alarm”. It is a well rounded song, giving a pleasant contrast between vocal hooks, gang shouts and beatdowns. Probably my favourite part of the song however is the lead guitar which nicely complimenting the vocal patterns, is used both to emphasise the excellent use of dynamics and complete transitions between sections of the song. While the riffs are powerful, they are also tastefully used and leave you wanting a little bit more.

After watching their live videos, I would offer some constructive criticism in that I feel that to put on a more entertaining live show, the band should have more confidence and stage presence whilst performing, perhaps making more exaggerated movements or interacting with people in the audience. This being said, I also think that judging by the videos, Reclaim the Skies are a very competent live band, performing their songs to a very high standard for a band still in its early days, so if you live in or around Bournemouth, make sure not to miss these guys next show which is on the 7^th of October at On The Rocks Bar in Bournemouth. This band is one that has a lot of potential for a young band and will hopefully go from strength to strength as they progress.

Review by Ryan Daly

Contact Reclaim the Skies!

reclaimtheskiesbooking@gmail.com

The Indices

The Indices are four lads from Dorchester who make rock music in the mould of the Black Keys, early Oasis and some of Elliott Smith's louder moments. Making satisfying use of heavy, jagged guitars, agile drums and a singer who sounds cocky in all the right ways, their muscular tunes are perfect for those who like their guitar music to sound like it's recently emerged from the gutter and can't be bothered to have a shower.

Of the four tracks on their debut EP “In the Clutches of Minds”, “Spite You” recalls a grungier Muse with a bone to pick with just about everyone, while “Only At The Weekend” is a propulsive roller, which should strike a chord with any high-spirited, types who live for their Friday and Saturday nights. Things are dialled down a little for the emotional six-minute “Mystery Love”, which is an unexpected change of pace which might not be to everyone's tastes, before “Sing Her To Sleep”'s chunky riffs and nonchalant vocals close things off with attitude.

If you're in the market for a band who know how to stylishly kick the shit out of a three-minute rock tune, The Indices could be just what you're looking for.

Review by Stefan Mohamed

Contact The Indices!
charlescarter8@hotmail.com

We are a new Record Label that has launched in Bristol, and it is our goal to find and sign great music. It ha been too long now that trash has controlled the industry and we have emerged to help real talent get their foot in the door and put them into one of the most exciting careers that this world has to offer!

We are currently scouting the web and streets to find bands that we truly love. It is these bands that will receive 100% support from us. Unfortunately we cannot take everyone on, and at times we will have to turn many artists/bands down, but we will always reply to anyone that gets in contact with us. This is our promise at Electric Harmony. If you take the time to get in contact with us to share your music, we will also repay with a reply. 

If you are unsuccessful and we do not take you on, do not fret. It wasn't all a waste of time! In return we will be happy to have one of our dedicated writers write a review on your band and/or music. This will then be posted here onto our blog and advertised through our official site and any social media sites we are located on. In return this will hopefully help you widen your fan base.

We cant wait to discover your music and hear from you, so get in contact with us at Electric Harmony today!