Portishead

A soft female vocalist backed by a DJ and jazz influenced guitars complete what Portishead first delivered with their 1991 full length release 'Dummy' and are now known for that sound. There music touches many different styles mainly electronic, down tempo and trip hop but when it comes to influnces they are very diverse ranging from dr. dre to old jazz. On the other hand, Portishead has influenced many musicians new and old. Releasing three full length albums and one live album they sink you into it's sounds and create your love for down tempo. After 1997 Self Titled effort they went on a hiatus from 1999-2005 the members all pursued solo projects or other pursuits. On February 2005 the band played live to support Tsunami Benefit in their hometown of Bristol; their first show in 7 years, soon after Portishead released some demos on Myspace and came out with the long awaited third full length release titled simply 'Third'. From the sound of things they're just like before but with a little love for old hip hop with still that slow tempo feel. We are to expect more from this creative bunch, keep your eyes open.

Check out Portishead on Myspace | Lastfm | Official Website

Watch Porishead Videos on YouTube

Peter Gabriel

After departing progressive band Genesis Peter Gabriel went on to pursue his thoughtful solo project. His first four albums were self titled and are known either by I, II, III or also by Car, Scratch, Melt and the last one being also self titled but known as Security in the U.S his other albums were titled by one word either Us, So, or Up. So saw the biggest success and grew his fan base to not just Genesis fans. Peter's love for world music and soul musicians such as, Otis Reeding clearly explains his open mind. Peter Gabriel has collaborated with many different musicians such as, Stewart Copeland, Robert Fripp, Trent Reznor and producer Bob Ezrin. Peter has created or been apart of many different organizations to show his love of awareness and passion towards certain ideas. Some organizations include WOMAD (World of Music, Arts and Dance), Real World Studios, WITNESS, On Demand Distribution, and Mudda. He has won many awards and has been apart of music for more than 30 years now either playing it or contributing to further improve certain musical endeavors. His music has been featured in many films and tv shows and i highly doubt you haven't heard his music in some form or another. His lyrics are realistic and express a lot of meaning. Peter Gabriel to me is a big inspiration to move forward with what I love to do and I'm certain I'm not the only one inspired by this brilliant mind.

Check out Peter Gabriel on LastFm

Full Peter Gabriel Biography on Wikipedia

Watch Peter Gabriel's Videos for In Your Eyes | Don't Give Up |

Watch Peter Gabriel's Live Videos for Solsbury Hill | Sledgehammer | 

Menomena

Individual instruments to individual musicians has gone way past Menomena's thought process when it comes to song writing lyrically and musically. Menomena came about as a side project of Danny Seim, Lackthereof and came fully assembled in late 2000. Menomena consists of three musicians which all members share singing duties and frequently swap instruments while recording. Menomena blossoms with brimming intricacy in some songs and others portraying crashing drums with piano driven bass lines. Music this full of ideas, can lead the mind to believe as overstuffed but then the next song plays on and you forget what you were thinking about it. The band's technique of building songs from improvised loops arranged with custom software make it even more appealing Knopf created what they call Deeler, read more about it here. Furthermore, their use of colorful language and words combine the art of music and poetry perfectly. Believe when i say you've found your new favorite band, Menomena.

Buy Menomena's Music on Amazon

Check out Menomena on Myspace | LastFm

Watch Menomena's Videos for Wet and Rusting | Rotten Hell 

Watch Menomena's Live Videos for Muscle N' Flo | Weird

Koushik

Soft Soothing Samples reminiscent of Manitoba and Madlib mixed in with that 60's Psych Pop Feel. Such Talent needs be recognized by other great musicians, that's why he's floating in the mist of all that's Stone Throw Records. He's collaborated with musicians such as Four Tet, Caribou and Madvillian and he's a resident of Ontario, Canada. Koushik is the son of Indian immigrants and growing up around that lifestyle Koushik took classical indian singing classes. Whilst his trips to the local farmers market in his town he visited the record shops and grew a strong love for hip hop. You can hear his vocals in some tracks on his album 'Be With' , I highly recommend this artists to everyone but if you're a fan of any of the aforementioned artists, you need this record.

Check out Koushik on LastFm

Buy Koushik- Be With on Amazon

Watch Koushik- One in a Day on Youtube 

Jeff Buckley

Out of the many solo artists that I admire Jeff Buckley's music touched me instantly from the first time I heard 'Grace' to living his memory through Youtube videos, Jeff Buckley will undoubtedly be a great memory in our minds. Imagine not reaching stardom until after your death, Jeff Buckley came out with 'Grace' and saw some small success, but than after his departure his music was featured in Movies, TV Shows, and Soundtracks as being that one guy in that one song from that one show or movie. Jeff Buckley was raised in California and was the son of Tim Buckley which he hardly even knew. His cover for Lenoard Cohen's 'Hallelujah' gained the biggest popularity reaching #1 on itunes selling charts. He was known for his high falsetto voice and emotionally melodic lyrics. He'll always be known as that one musician that captivated our ears with his smooth smooth sound in acapella.

Check out Jeff Buckley on Myspace | LastFm

Check out Jeff Buckley Videos for Grace | Last Goodbye | Hallelujah | So Real

Check out Live Videos from Jeff Buckley of So Real/ Last Goodbye | Grace

Read more about Jeff Buckley on Wikipedia

Atmosphere

Collective thought about arguments, respect towards what's right and what's wrong, creating lyrics that melts the brian in meaning. Two Musicians, with a live band create passionate and meaningful hip hop music. Starting off with just a DJ and an Emcee, Atmosphere grew to become the core of Underground Hip Hop Music signing artists to what is now known as one of the most talented hip hop record labels out there, Rhymesayers Entertainment.  With 6 Full Length Album, Atmosphere brought hip hop music what it needed A Meaning. I guess you can call it complaining but others call it awareness, just releasing their 6th Full Length 'When Life Gives You Lemons, You Paint That Shit Gold' Atmosphere is looking to optimism and hope creating maturity in their lives mentally and musically and hopefully in the ones they grap through their music. 

Check out Atmosphere on Myspace | LastFm | Facebook | YouTube

Full Biography of Atmosphere on Wikipedia

Interview: Charts and Maps

Jemayel bass player for Charts and Maps took time off his busy schedule to support the Musical Brochure with this Interview, Enjoy!

I always start with this question just cause it's something on peoples' minds, Charts and Maps where did you guys come up with that name, reminds me of Maps & Atlases, we need to get you guys to open up for them that would be interesting?

Yeah, we were just sitting around after we started jamming, trying to think of a name. Charts and Maps was the only one that everybody could agree on. I found out that Maps and Atlases existed literally a week after we named ourselves, but we figured it didn't really matter. I mean, yeah, we're both progressive bands but we do sound quite different. There's another band called Maps as well, so all three of us could go on tour together, charts and maps and maps and maps and atlases"

When did you guys become a band?

John and I have been playing together since we were 15-ish. We had a band in high school called Soli i Sombra. The rest of us all met at USC--we all actually lived together for a year. We began jamming in this format in like May of 2007-

I enjoyed 'Charts and Maps Killed a Man' from the controlled chaotic solos to the organic fills.  What's your favorite song to play live off that EP?

As of this point, the only song off of that EP that we play live is Bury Pierre. We sort of discarded the rest. We often discuss bringing 10:58 back, but it's just so long that it takes up a significant portion of any set we're likely to play. We just think our new material is better.  Charts and Maps Killed a Man has pretty much the first five songs we wrote together. 

How did you guys get involved with The A.M.A.R. Collective and what is your opinion on the collective organization?

I think I started chatting with Andrew Newton (of ars poetria and like 10 different bands) on the 'ol interweb-- i think he was into our really old project Soli i Sombra-- and things just sort of rolled on from there. I think AMAR is excellent. Not only as a conceptual idea, but also the people involved that I have met have all been so open minded and laid back. AMAR really gives bands and artists of all kinds an opportunity to showcase their talents, involve themselves with a community of like minded individuals and grow through connections with people. We're really happy to be involved with them. 

Growing up as a kid I was forced to listen to Bob Marley, Carlos Santana, Talking Heads and because of my mother Prince but I thank my parents for that because it's made me so open minded. What did you guys listen to growing up? what influenced you to pick up a musical instrument and make that a passion?

When we were in high school John and I both had musical awakenings of sorts to the album 'El Cielo' by Dredg. It really showed us what music could be and made us begin to look outside of the box with our creative impulses. Before that we hadn't necessarily sought after music that challenged us. After El Cielo, even to today, we try to challenge ourselves in the composition of every song.

I read up on the interviews Jemayel did and he always asked this question so looking it from a different perspective. What do you think about filesharing?

Personally I fully support it in all forms. The majority of media companies are run by corporations who are selling a product more than they are facilitating art. Independent and smaller labels will be able to do fine by adapting to a new business environment. ---in my mind music is free. I'd be quite happy if all the major labels crumbled. 

I saw you guys had some shows up north how did those go and how did you guys get those gigs?

Fervent e-mailing by us and the danger bees.Pretty much we were willing to play anywhere that would house us, and if they gave us gas money, then excellent. We got lucky that a couple of really cool venues were into us. Specifically, The Comet Tavern in Seattle  was a lot of fun with a real cool crowd.

What's Charts and Maps plan for this year?

Well, we're recording again in June with Chris Schlarb, whose projects are on asthmatic kitty records. So that's really exciting. We're in the process of replacing Alec, our rhythm guitar player who was just so busy he couldn't commit fully to our band. Instead, Jay Watford, who also plays in Danger Bees, is gonna be playing with us. We finished our new EP (finally), titled 'Trouble at the Old Mill,' so we're trying to get that into as many ears as possible in the meantime. People can download it free from our myspage page. Um, also, we're in the process of starting an art collective with Pride of Kenya, Danger Bees, us, and a few visual artists--it's gonna be called Heard of Elephants (i think) and we're gonna get going in July. It should be fun.

Recommend me some music?

Well, I know you keep up on your music, jerry, so here goes anyway: tinariwen, dosh, harry nilsson, we're all massive battles fans, extra golden

Why should people listen to your music?

Well, if it brings them pleasure, they should do it