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Marky Edison

Marky Edison

Atsuko Chiba - Water, It Feels Like It's Growing (EP Review)

Atsuko Chiba

Water, It Feels Like It's Growing

By Johnno

It's very easy to lament the days of the past.  Especially when you regret taking chances on things that would leave you outside of your comfort zone and wheelhouse.  "Ask that girl out?... No way, man, she's out of my league."  "Leave a job?... I got security there and free daily bagels."  "Travel the world... And go into debt, venturing into unfamiliar territories? Nah.  " It takes a youthful essence to make those leaps out of complacency, springing forth into any possible chaos.  And in that chaos, you can go "with it", find a path with no end, as every fork in the road begets another.

Unless you die.

That would royally suck and is totally known to happen. But it's all about the journey and not the destination, right?

Enter Atsuko Chiba's latest effort, Water, It Feels Like It's Growing.  The Montreal quintet has taken another step forward with a hearty, layered effort that is equally cohesive as it is sporadic within its 36-minute runtime.  In respective psyche rock fashion, I found the album perfect for those who really want to listen to what's coming through the speakers or headphones.  An almost stream-of-consciousness composing but still harkens back to previous movements and passages, as it leaves the listener strictly in the moment enjoying what is presented.  Luckily, if the moment is at its most chaotic musically, or the standout shouting, "Fucked Up! / I'm the culprit!" on the track ‘So Much For’, or within the drone groove of the title track... it is all welcome.  It's all a part of the journey Atsuko Chiba has invited us on, enhanced by tripping on something that was given to us from an unmarked ziploc bag.  The snozzberries taste like snozzberries.

Opening the EP with ‘Sunbath’ was a great first chess move.  A musically dark and ominous beginning underlying singer Karim's inviting vocal lines, a youthful yearn for change out of complacency, and tonally familiar.  After the fifth minute, there's a break through the clouds where the music offers an uplifting moment facing the end.  Everything is going to be okay, everyone!  Remember, it's all a part of the journey, m'kay!?

Water... is chock full of dynamics expertly enhanced by a rich production and mixing.  Guitars don't overpower the soundscape as it could with most psyche-rock outputs, leaving space for synths and a guest-starring horn section.  A special moment worth noting is the opening to the fourth track, ‘Seeds’.  Reminiscent of The Beach Boys ' "Till I Die" vocal opening, the two tracks share a similar warmth.  Emoting such a personal, emotional touch to an otherwise busy and layered album, encapsulates the less-is-more notion, giving us little, while speaking volumes in the grander scheme and tone of the album.  Water... is a lush post-prog-psych-rock-whathaveyou for the active listener, spiraling outward on the cobblestone streets of Venice, perfect for musical escapism.  Traveling isn't for everyone; some people prefer to stay home.  But even if you're a homebody, turn off the lights and tune into Atsuko Chiba's latest - because it's worth the trip.

9/10



 

The Hu Team Up With Alice In Chains

 

Having previously worked with the vocalists from Papa Roach, Halestorm, and From Ashes To New, Mongolian metallers The Hu have a new song out with Alice In Chain’s William Duvall. It makes sense for the band, who perform in Mongol, to get American singers to play with. USA is their most successful market by a long shot. The collaborations from their first album didn’t add much to their catalogue but Duvall’s contribution stands up on its own and we’d be intrigued to hear some more from this pairing.

Watch the vid and punch the air! More info below

The Hu, Mongolian rock sensation and UNESCO “Artist For Peace” ambassadors have  shared a new version of their 2022 groundbreaking single “This Is Mongol.” With featured guest vocalist/guitarist William DuVall of Alice In Chains now appearing on the updated track, “This Is Mongol (Warrior Souls)” further highlights the song’s original message of promoting Mongolian culture and empowering environmental awareness by adding English-translated lyrics, sung by DuVall - who also produced and mixed the single -, and an unforgettable chanting chorus: “Hey, We are warrior souls, rolling like a river of fire / We are warrior souls, running down the dragon to slay / This is our way (This is our way).”  These themes are seen throughout the “This Is Mongol (Warrior Souls)” music video which also premiered today. The video was co-directed by Michael Lombardi, co-producer and lead actor of The Retaliators--the 2022 horror-thriller in which members of THE HU appeared and whose soundtrack included music from the band’s discography—and includes an exclusive sneak peek of the film which is out now on Blu-Ray via Better Noise Films.

"We are so excited to be performing our single, ‘This is Mongol (Warrior Souls),’ with William DuVall,” exclaims THE HU’s tovshuur player and backing vocalist Temka. “He’s not only an amazing vocalist but also has unique rhythm and technique to his performance, and his style matches our energy and our throat singing. The song is about the warrior souls that are within us, and its purpose is to inspire you and awaken your soul. We hope everyone enjoys this piece of art."

“It was such an exciting and fulfilling challenge to write and produce something that remained true to The Hu’s sensibilities while also resonating with my own,” shares William DuVall. “‘Warrior Souls’ is a testament to the fact that, no matter where we come from, in the end, we all want the same things-to prosper in our own time despite the odds arrayed against us, making previous generations proud and leaving a worthy legacy for the future. I’m honored by this collaboration and very proud of the result.”

Lombardi shared details on working with THE HU and the video’s inspiration, stating:

“I had the immense pleasure of working with The Hu in the feature film ‘The Retaliators.’ Their contributions ranged from acting, songs appearing in the film and also on ‘The Retaliators’ soundtrack. On their track, ‘This is Mongol,’ their lyrics encompass a proud declaration of possessing a warrior spirit. The Hu believe we all have the warrior spirit within us. Through inspiring with their hearts and courage, they awaken that warrior spirit in all of us.  I have witnessed that the messages in their music are a total reflection of how they live and how they tackle their artistic process. The Hu approach their craft with professionalism, courage--and with infectious energy.”

Meanwhile, having sold-out tours across the globe and appearances at some of the top-rated music festivals including Coachella, Lollapalooza and Download Festival—just to name a few—THE HU will be performing their first-ever virtual concert in the metaverse on March 3 in partnership with ARD Financial Group (ARD). Tickets will go on-sale February 13 at this link: www.hu.rocks. Throughout the show, fans will experience a virtual world created by METAFORSE that highlights the THE HU’s home country of Mongolia and its traditions and cultural importance of which the band have shared throughout their music by utilizing traditional instrumentation, throat singing and singing entirely in the Mongolian language with their self-appointed brand of “hunnu rock.”

To date, The HU have accumulated over 329 million combined streams and 290 million video views. The group have captured a diverse fanbase by landing their music on movie soundtracks (The Retaliators), creating original music for EA Games’ Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, being handpicked by Metallica to cover their hit single “Through The Never” on the 2021 Metallica Blacklist album alongside covers from high-profile artists including Miley Cyrus, Chris Stapleton, Phoebe Bridgers and more and being the first-ever rock/metal band to receive the prestigious UNESCO “Artist of Peace” Designation. 

THE HU TOUR DATES

6/7 Novarock - Austria 2023

6/15 Hellfest - France 2023

6/16 Pinkpop - Netherlands 2023

6/29 Rock Werchter - Belgium 2023

7/5 Musilack – France 2023

7/6 Mad Cool Festival – Spain 2023

7/13 Masters of Rock - Czech Republic 2023

7/19 EC9 - Romania 2023

 

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