Playlist Spotify: Novembro/2014 - por Alex Bigio

O Alex é um dos mentores do novo projecto Layover - que o FYMS tão intimamente acarinhou- e que antes, pertenceu aos Unwanted Heroes e Homeless (basta procurar nos arquivos do nosso site que encontraram algumas reviews...)

O rapaz "dono das vozes e guitarra rítmica" ambiciona correr o mundo com o seu novo projecto mas este mês, o FYMS convidou-o para fazer a playlist Spotify do mês de Novembro!

Foto por Filipe Vera-Cruz

Quando falámos com o Alex para esta edição do Playlist Spotify, propusemos o desafio de que as músicas não poderiam ser do estilo que toca na sua banda, Layover.

O resultado foi uma lista de artistas que vão desde Pink Floyd a Jeff Buckley, passando por Archive, Jethro Tull e Simon & Garfunkel, incluindo outros tantos.
Uma playlist diferente que merece ser ouvida - segue o link ou acompanha a playlist do Alex abaixo:

Mais informações sobre Layover aqui.

Review: Homeless (Farewell Concert) in Cascais, The Stairway Club

Homeless are one of our bands (by now, I guess we have the honor to call them 'ours') and last friday, on November 15, they gave a very particular show - it was their Farewell Concert.
Moving to Canada, they decided it was only fair to give a final show and celebrate their music with fans, friends and people who followed their steps since the very beginning.

On a previous review, when they were still known as Unwanted Heroes - that you can read here, we said "their sound really relates with those classic rock bands, even though it would almost be described like grunge. Their sound is very clear and melodic. The songs seemed so elaborated, so well connected and so strong. All the instruments have a position and there are no gaps during the show."
After more than a year... some of those aspects maintain - but yet, they grew up. They got stronger, they achieve an amazing greatness on stage.
They were young and unexperienced musicians who had the eager to become something bigger and last Friday, we met a Homeless full of confidence and not afraid of showing off their talent.

Since this was a farewell concert, they invited their previous bandmate Pedro to play a couple of songs celebrating their Unwanted Heroes time.

There was time for everything - they entertained, they joked, they connected to their warm audience but mostly, they played music for themselves turning into this cosy, home-garage-feeling experience.  Songs like Youth or If I Could Fly surprised me because it proved me (again!) why they are so talented.

They also did one of my favourite parts of their show: the incredible "drums jam" between Alexandre and Vasco, during Better Than This and Timbalitos, that really sums the band's connection in music and friendship (not mentioning, the guitar solo from António "Jesus" and the bass solo from Nuno).
Gladly, old classics like My Deadly Sin and Sinner were included in the celebration.

Last Friday, Homeless reminded me of the main reason why I love discovering young bands: they stay true to themselves, they play for the simple pleasure of playing together and that is the best feeling of all.

After so long, I still get impressed by their "great talent and multi-tasking" and also by their seriousness in their music. 
Picking up a previous quote "I am shocked with their talent, their grace, their spirit. They are way too good!" - I guess that it doesn't matter how long it passes, I will always be amazed by their talent, their work and their connection.

Farewell Homeless! 

Interview // With Homeless

Homeless are young, fresh, vibrant and full of talent band, that counts with Alexandre Bigio (vocals and guitars), Vasco Calheiros (drums), Nuno Ribeiro (bass guitar) and António Solla (guitars).

On their previous project as Unwanted Heroes they showed us their value and talent.
Now as Homeless, we got to know this four-piece band, by sharing not only their hopes and worries for the future but also showing off a relaxed and joyful side.

One thing is for sure, Homeless's talent is tremendously huge and having quite a bright future in front of them.
On a review, which you can read here, we said "their sound really relates with those classic rock bands, even though it would almost be described like grunge" and it continues to define Homeless sound and their prospects to the future. 
Let's just hope it continues to be as refreshing and surprising as nowadays.

For further information about Homeless check their pages on Facebook.

You can check the entire interview below:

Pat: 2012 Music Retrospection

Last year, we decided to make a 2011 Music Retrospection - check here - which reflects our personal view of that year's music highlights.

I revealed that it was pretty hard for me to do it because it really makes doing a deep introspection from everything I've listened and watched since January.

Yet, I am making a 2012 Music Retrospection this year - because I found very interesting to see the big differences from the artists I was listening to and the songs I discovered during the last twelve months.

Deaths like Whitney Houston, Donna Summers, Etta James, Adam "MCA" Yauch or even the Portuguese Bernardo Sassetti really marked this year.

Since we started this project, our FYMS, I've been discovering a lot of new music and re-discovering old bands.

Albums released this year:

- International Records

• Lana Del Rey - Born To Die

Lana is one of the artist that I revealed in 2011 and that I was eager to discover more about. Seems like she is a lot bigger than I expected back then. Her debut record is strong and really shows-off her talent, brightness and capacity of surprising people. Songs like Summer Sadness, The National Anthem and the already hit singles Blue Jeans and Video Games are some of the songs that you should listen.

She was one of the hot topics of 2012 - for all the good and bad reasons - but for me she is a real talent and she really has a bright future.

• Jack White - Blunderbuss

Probably, this is on my number #1 of favourite albums - alongside with another. I've been a longtime fan of Jack White and all his projects but I was waiting for his most dangerous project... When he announced his solo album more than anxious I was curious to see how Jack White - one of my idols, one of the most genius musicians of the last decades -, was going to be like.

I can say that I was overwhelmed by his work. There ain't a song that I don't love. Deep from the blues, mixing his own way of expression and great talent, this is a must-have album for everyone who loves music.

Thank you Jack White!

• Keane - Strangeland

For most of you, this is an obvious choice. This Keane's record shares with Jack White the number #1 place of my favourite records of 2012.

Strangeland has the best of Keane - the melancholic, the life and softness that I love from the first album and the raw, dark and bittersweet sound of the second. This is Keane!

The way they celebrate life at the same time they show how hard it gets is just amazingly beautiful. I can't get enough of this record.

Sovereigh Light Café, Disconnected or Day Will Come are some of the songs that I suggest people to listen to.

Keane are back more than ever!

• Mumford & Sons - Babel

One of this year's revelation. I like Mumford & Sons since their debut record. The softness, kindness and joy that so well reflects the band's spirit is really explicit in Babel.

Babel is a on-going discover. Each time I dare to listen the record I discover new feelings, new sensations, new emotions. It's a lifetime album for music lovers and especially for Mumford & Sons fans. 

I Will Wait and Lover Of The Light are great songs that aren't able to describe the entire album.

Listen Babel and you will understand what I mean.

• Muse - The 2nd Law

Another art piece by one of the greatest UK bands. I love conceptual albums, I can't deny it. And all the mystic inspiration based on life and inner rebellion really attracted me. 

I start writing about this album more than three times, then I realised is one of those albums that you will never be fully capable of talking about for all it's mystery and hidden details. 

I won't quit about trying to write about The 2nd Law.

But for now, I honestly suggest everyone to take a time and discover their electronic-rock-fulfilling sound. 

Madness, Follow Me or Save Me are great examples of Muse's talent and The 2nd Law's greatness.

It's never too much to talk about talent when the topic is Muse!

• (Honored mention) The Killers - Battle Born

One of my biggest expectations of this year was, alongside with Keane, The Killers' new record. 

As I expected, they are quite good in what they do so the waiting was really worth it.

Their exquisite taste is remarkable and that reflects in whatever they do.

Miss Atomic Bomb, Runaways or Run With Me are so different between them and yet so full of The Killers' talent. What a great evolution.

This is usually the hardest list of all. I had a on-going list for this section. I would include so many different artists on this list. But the chosen above are probably, among all my listened albums, the most listened ones.

- Portuguese records

I don't usually like to divide music like this, but exceptionally I'm going to make it.

It has been a great music to the Portuguese music - where we are from - and I found so many great artists that isn't impossible to make a small list of them!

• Salto - Salto
• Walter Benjamin - The Imaginary Life of Rosemary and Me
• Wraygunn - L'Art Brut
• Supernada - Supernada
• Minta & The Brook Trouts - Olympia
• (Honored mentions) TV Rural - A Balada do Coiote and David Fonseca - Seasons: Rising and Falling

Songs released this year:

There are a lot of songs that really enjoyed this year like: Bruno Mars - Locked Out Of Heaven, Salto - Deixar Cair, Keane - Sovereigh Light Café, Rihanna - Diamonds, The Hypers - Never Too Old and a lot of many others.

Probably my most favourite comes from a collaboration between Deadmau5 and My Chemical Romance's singer Gerard Way with the song Professional Griefers.

There's something really mysterious about this song, that way it joins electronic music to a strong punk/rock voice is just amazing. It's one of those unexpected songs that got stuck in my mind for months!

Gigs I went and loved:

You Can't Win, Charlie Brown - Lisboa: Cinema São Jorge

Festival MUSA - Carcavelos

Manu Chao - Cascais: Cascais Music Festival

Salto - Lisboa: FNAC Chiado

Festival Sudoeste TMN - Zambujeira do Mar: Herdade da Casa Branca

Jack White - Lisboa: Coliseu dos Recreios

Keane - Lisboa: Campo Pequeno (+ previous gigs in TMN Ao Vivo - May - and Cascais Music Festival - July -)

The Gift - Lisboa: Coliseu dos Recreios
The Hypers + Unwanted Heroes - Cascais: Rock & Shots

Musical Discovery:

Homeless (that I met as Unwanted Heroes) are my musical discovery of this year.
They are young fresh band whose talent is tremendously huge and having quite a bright future in front of them.
I can't wait to see them become bigger and successful because they do deserve it. They are, for sure, my last music passion of this year!
I could mention so many others but Homeless are young and new - they deserve a shot!


2013 Expectations:
I only expect another great year like this one in terms of shows, albums and artists. I would love to be able to see Mumford & Sons and Muse.
I am working on to see The XX's festival, Willy Moon and David Fonseca. Optimus Alive! is once again on my list but the other festivals are inviting very intriguing artists aswell.
For 2013, I only hope to be greater!


Note: I would like to highlight that I had the need to leave outside, of the mentioned above, artists that mean a lot to me, otherwise the lists would go on and on and I wouldn't be quite a reflection, wouldn't it?
Yet, I did my best to include all of the artists and their work that influenced in a way or another - trying to include them in the most various ways.

Let us know which were on your top! 

Review: The Hypers + Unwanted Heroes in Cascais, Rock N' Shots

Last Saturday, on November 24th we had the honor to see the amazing The Hypers again, after their performance in MUSA, earlier in July - find it here.

The night promised to be very interesting. Just half an hour, the small but cosy Rock N' Shots in Cascais seemed to be small for the upcoming gigs.

The first band to perform were the young and local Unwanted Heroes.
Formed by three guitars: Alexandre - also the singer-, António and Pedro; a bass guitar: Nuno and drums by Vasco. It seemed to be a bit too extravagant for this band - especially, being their third gig as a band.
What was supposed to be a mess turned into something really huge and mostly revealing.

During the show, the band did a kind of “presentation game” making a fast but characteristic solo and you can see a lot from it:
On Alexandre’s voice I was able to identify some Kurt Cobain or even Dave Grohl’s style. I am a fan of voices with clear flaws. Alexandre's voice brings another excitement to each song, otherwise the band would lose a bit of their element. In this case, his voice sounds so perfect with his flaws.
Both António and Pedro, even though they are both guitarists they couldn’t be more different – and that’s really funny to see on a gig. António is more from the roots, from the classics, something from Jack White and Pedro is more “hardcore”, resembling more strong rock bands.
Nuno is quiet but his bass guitar seems to be a perfect extension of himself reflecting a calm but pretty strong and talented young man. Vasco is, probably, the most charismatic – he is very communicative and his drums don’t get in his way. He is very strong and secure and his way of playing drums is kind of unique.

Gladly, they proved me wrong, with ages around the twenties, their sound really relates with those classic rock bands, even though it would almost be described like grunge.

Their sound is very clear and melodic. The songs seemed so elaborated, so well connected and so strong.
All the instruments have a position and there are no gaps during the show. On Twitter, I explained "I am shocked with their talent, their grace, their spirit. They are way too good!".
They really shocked me, not only for their great talent and their multi-tasking but also for the way they connected with their audience, the seriousness I wouldn't expect from such a young band. They were flawless on their organization, presentation and mostly for giving so much to the performance.

They give a big credit and attention to the melodies, to the instrumental constructions, to the composition of each song. The songs' structure sound really good.
All of this is reflected on their wild spirit because they seem to perform just like those sold-out stadium bands. One thing is for sure: Unwanted Heroes have a bright future and I’m going to be there to celebrate it.

[More Unwanted Heroes pictures here]

In July, FYMS described The Hypers as "A rock n' roll band with a very cool 70's look but a very modern and remarkable sound."
For this show, these three amazing musicians promised “Friendly, Electric, Passionate and Vibrant rock n’ roll” show.

A fun intro it’s always acclaimed, especially when we talk about talented bands like The Hypers.
The interaction between band and audience was a constant during the entire gig, bringing more excitement and connection to their brilliant performance.

Musically speaking, they know how to groove, how to play good rock influenced by old and classic bands and mostly, they know how to catch their audience’s attention with their energy, power and joy.
Although it seems like Pedro Veiga, as the drummer, is quiet, well, give him a drum set and he shows you what a great musician is made of.

Their shows are never the same and it’s always intriguing to see them because you don’t really know what to expect.
Everything happens thanks to their love for their music and for what they believe.

That’s why their shows are always so complete, so warm and so full of everything.
The Hypers sound really secure with the instrumental solo parts. Each instrument fits perfectly with each other, without being excessive.
To highlight the strong sound of Ricardo Ferreira’s bass line on some songs.
One of the songs that really got me were The Voice Of A Broken Generation and my favorite You're Never Too Old where Gonçalo Larsen’s incredible rock n’ roll style and voice is nicely noted.

The Hypers have this special endless energy that really makes you wishing the gig to keep going on.
Yes, The Hypers have that power!

[More The Hypers pictures here]


Special thanks to Ana Júlia for the pictures.