Here in the states we recently celebrated Thanksgiving. What was I thankful for this year? A couple of quiet days off to catch up on music! We actually had so many musicians contact us in the last couple of weeks that we’ve had to delay their inclusion in our monthly roundup until December’s issue. Grab a set of headphones, pour your warm beverage of choice, and get comfortable. Here we go…

Marcus Singletary – Live on Sunset

November 5th marked the release of LA-based musician Marcus Singletary’s latest album, Live on Sunset. The 7-track set was recorded at LA’s Whisky a Go-Go, a club that’s hosted some classic rock legends going back decades. Singletary’s classic rock and blues stylings are in full force in the live version of Mercury Blues below.

The Foreign Films - Fall of the Summer Heart

By far the longest single we’ve featured on The Indie Mine, Fall of the Summer Heart by The Foreign Films is an eight-part cycle. Filled with strong 60s pop influences, this epic track  took a full year to record and will be part of TFF’s next album, The Record Collector, due out in April of 2014.

Skytown Riot – Soul or System

Earning comparisons to Muse and Coldplay, Knoxville, TN-based Skytown Riot continued to make news this past month. The alt-rock band released their anthemic album Soul or System in mid-November. The album was the culmination of a long process which included rounding out the final lineup of band members back in 2012. The track  “Runaway Princess” has been gaining some notoriety amongst the gaming community for use in fan-made videos, and you can have a listen below.

The Almighty Rhombus – Lucid Living

The Almighty Rhombus makes a return appearance in our music roundup feature having previously caught our attention twice before. This time around the band has released a new album, Lucid Living. Whereas their previous album held a pretty consistent pop sound, this setlist is all over the place with tracks ranging from garage band to psychedelic. When it comes to the band’s sound, I honestly can’t decide if I prefer the high-energy style of songs like “Down South” or the more mellow surf band-ish “Blank”. Check out the album and decide for yourself.

Echotape – “Pushing Your Faith/The Weak”

Formed in the south of the UK in 2010, Echotape is working hard to build on the success of their debut EP, Sky Above Quarley Hill. That brings us to “Pushing Your Faith/The Weak”, the latest AA single from their Hexolagy series.  Check out the alt-rock single below, and keep an eye out for their next release,  “Last King of England”, due out in mid-December.

Forgotten Fix - Disconnect

Forgotten Fix is a very new band, having just formed in Summer 2013. What they may lack in experience, they certainly make up for in drive and efficiency. The synth rock band from Montréal managed to put together a five-track album, Disconnect, in just five days. I’ve included the single “The Problem With Unity” because it has some of the most fun synth work out of the setlist.

Kettū – “Oxytocin”

Otso “Ozoh”  Haavisto is another returning member to our music roundup feature, but this time he’s working under the project name Kettū. His first release under this new project is the glo-fi/chillwave single “Oxytocin”. I really dug his previous work back in April, and that hasn’t changed with this new track. It has that same laid-back, ambient style that I think would fit perfectly on a puzzle game soundtrack.

Ummagma – “Rotation/Live and Let Die”

It’s the month of return guests! Ummagma has been featured on the site a handful of times, and the Ukrainian-Canadian duo is back with a new single containing two tracks, “Rotation” and “Live and Let Die”. Their addictively hypnotic “dreamgaze” sound combines elements of a few different genres including electronic, synth pop, and rock. The single isn’t actually released yet (due out Dec. 9th), but you can have a listen to “Rotation” early.

Clockwork Noise – Whethermachines

While Clockwork Noise released their debut album Whethermachines back in May, it was still a work-in-progress. November saw that project reach its culmination with the release of the final track “The Tourists”. The band likes to experiment with the juxtaposition of opposites, and that’s never more apparent than with the infusion of string instrumentation into the modern, alt-rock “A Wake Up Serenade”.

JproD – “A Million Feelings”

JproD is a rap/hip-hop artist from the New England area.  As with many indie artists, JproD bases his music off of his lifestyle and life experiences while also taking inspiration from different cultures and musical genres. His latest project is entitled “Regal” and he recently released two singles from that project: “Trill Shit, I Really Mean That” and “A Million Feelings”. We’ve included the latter of the two. WARNING: NSFW.

Fronz Arp - deepseabigcitysmallroom

Fronz made our music roundup early in 2013 with the release of his album Fronz Arp is a Tiny Crooked Orchestra. The Australian artist is back with a brand new album, deepseabigycitysmallroom. The 7-track EP captures the essence of his time living in New York aided by the fact that was it was written in, recorded in, and even performed using bits of furniture in an East Harlem apartment. While a little less poppy than his previous release, the new album is still Bowie-esque with a pleasant, folk singer-songwriter style.

Street Cleaner - Street Cleaner

Described as the soundtrack for an 1980s movie that never was, Street Cleaner’s self-titled album tells the story of detective/vigilante Jack Slade trying to clean up the seedy underbelly of San Diego. The 13 tracks exude the guitar riffs and synth sounds that the 80s were known for and fit in perfectly with the action movie and video game soundtracks of that era. While video game composer Jesse Bishop was responsible for writing each of the songs, a number of other musicians also contributed to the album.

Charles Bordeaux – Fables

Fables is the latest EP from NY-based singer/songwriter Charles Bordeaux. Just in time for the Thanksgiving holiday, this three-track narrative tells a story of gratitude through a farmer and the personification of Time. The album is a mix of electronic, dream pop, shoegaze and other similar genres, and it has a mild psychedelic edge to it. The first track, “Sandman”, has been included for your listening pleasure.

Womb – “Baby Don’t Love Me”

Garage jazz/blues is probably the most apt description for the musical stylings of Womb. While the band was busy touring this summer, they still found the time to put together a debut music video for the single “Baby Don’t Love Me”. The video is of the humorous variety and features the band getting the living hell beat out of them by a spiteful girlfriend.

James Keyes - The Middle

James Keyes is another musician from the New England area, specifically Connecticut. November 23rd marked the release of his third album, the first since mid-2011.  The Middle is a 12-track mélange of blues, rock, folk, and country, and the unifying element is the Waits-esque vocal talent of Keyes himself. At its core it’s a bit of Americana. My favorite track is “The Traveler” which I’ve included because it’s fun and I enjoyed the instrumentation, particularly the bass.

Illitry – “Kingdom Perverted”

As with a number of the other bands, Illitry has previously been featured in our monthly music roundups. The two-piece band from Hamilton, ON is back this month with a new single, “Kingdom Perverted”. The track – with its mix of electronica and organic sounds – is from their debut album which is set to come out early next year.

Invasions – “Rosy”

We actually brought you coverage of “Rosy” in last month’s music roundup. Invasions’ surf rock style is back in a brand new music video for the single. The video features a 60s pool party theme and 8mm recordings.

Unconditional Arms - Kinship

All music serves as a creative outlet, but not all of it tells a story. Kinship by Unconditional Arms was written by musician Jeffrey Wright as a celebration of the birth of his son. It’s a 6-track, fully instrumental album that explores the emotions Wright uncovered during this momentous period of his life. We’ve included the first track, “The Family Tree”, below.

Mindy Gledhill - Pocketful of Poetry

With a successful Pledge Music Campaign, trips from LA to Morocco to Japan, and appearing on a Grammy-nominated album, it’s safe to say that things are going well for musician Mindy Gledhill. September saw the release of her latest album, Pocketful of Poetry. While the songs vary in tone, for the most part the album is a plucky mix of pop and folk.

CalatrilloZ – “Lords of Misery”

While some musical acts are considered performances, the London-based quintet CalatrilloZ takes it up a few levels. They manage to blend metal and prog rock with a flair for opera including costumes, acting, and some serious stage design. The band recently made news by releasing their single “Lords of Misery” which you can listen to below.

Claudio Cataldi – Homing Season

Every month it seems like we’re being introduced to a new subgenre of music, and in November we have Claudio Cataldi to thank for bringing us acid-folk. Cataldi’s musical stylings also incorporate shoegaze, and both can be found within his new album Homing Season. Although the album came out in September, even in November it still manages to capture a bit of the feel of the autumnal season.

Fitness Club Fiasco – “Goldmine” (Jon Lawless remix)

I don’t love all of the music that hits our inbox, but every month there are usually a couple of albums or singles that I put on repeat while working on this website long after putting together this roundup feature. Back in June I included Fitness Club Fiasco’s “Goldmine”, a catchy single that won me over and I still listen to frequently. Jon Lawless of First Rate People took his own stab at the song this month, and you can hear the remix results below.

Ben McKenzie - Stand Down Son

While still performing live with His Broken Bones,  Stand Down Son marks the first solo EP release by Toronto singer-songwriter Ben McKenzie. The six-track setlist is a bit of Springsteen and Petty as it takes a longing, bittersweet look at the past, present, and future.

Shintaro Haioka - Harumi

Electronica musician Shintaro Haioka has followed up his earlier 2013 EP Blowin’ in the Wind with another EP, Harumi. Once again, Haioka draws upon his Japanese background with this six-track set. The artist combines traditional Japanese instrumentation like the koto zither and hyshigi percussion with modern effects and sound processing.

20 Days In - Propagation

Late October saw the release of the third EP from Philly-based 20 Days In. The five-piece band unveiled Propagation, a deviation from the group’s usual hardcore sound. The three tracks included in this EP steer more towards the alternative and progressive sides of rock, but they still retain the aggressive tone the band has become known for.

Mark Martyre - London

We started doing these monthly roundups back in February, and musician Mark Martyre was one of the 11 musical acts that we included in that inaugural edition. London is the latest album to be released by Martyre, following up on the success of last year’s Down, Record. As with Martyre’s previous efforts, London‘s ten tracks showcase his talents as a songwriter and Waits-like vocal style.

 
I would be shocked, absolutely shocked if there’s a reader that didn’t find something they enjoyed in the list above. We really ran the gamut of genres and subgenres this month. There was so much music, in fact, that we’re planning on shaking up the format for these monthly roundups starting with January’s edition (December’s will likely remain the same). Show your support for these wonderful bands by listening to, downloading, and purchasing their music. And don’t forget to leave a comment for us about who you liked.

© 2013, The Indie Mine. All rights reserved.

When imagining traveling through time, it’s not just about ending up in a different era, it’s often about experiencing a different place and way of life. Untimed takes the reader from modern day Philadelphia to early 18th-century London, 19th-century France, and 20th-century China. The bulk of the story takes place in that London setting and presents the city from the view of young street thieves. Although the characters Charlie meets veer a bit on the outlandish side, the setting itself is vividly painted as dirty and seedy. War-torn Europe in the early 1800′s is brought to life through Gavin’s depiction of the anticipation of battle and the carnage inflicted upon its participants. Without giving too much away, our hero even gets a look at a skewed version of the present when a few historical choices go awry. Gavin certainly paints a picture of the past that makes the reader share Charlie’s desire to get back home.

As a science fiction fan, one of the best parts about time travel is seeing how each storyteller presents his or her incarnation. In other words, finding out what the rules are and what the consequences are of bending or breaking those rules. Untimed immediately draws readers in with how the protagonist details his bizarre non-existence in the eyes of everyone around him. Going unnoticed is something a lot of teenagers can probably identify with, but it goes a step further in that not even his own mother can remember his name. In fact, everyone who possesses the time travel ability experiences this with the “normals”, and the characters often either suffer because of it or use it to their advantage. Another unique twist is that males can only travel backward in time and females forward, though a pair can travel together in the direction of choice. This presents some interesting dilemmas for the characters in terms of how they’re going to travel in the direction they want or need to be going. Charlie is determined not to lose his time-traveling love interest Yvaine by jumping without her. A necessary “cooldown” period between jumps infuses plenty of tension in the more dramatic, frenzied moments of the story. Untimed deals with the consequences of characters running into other versions of themselves, and it also covers cause-effect relationships in terms of the historical timeline. While some of these concepts draw from Untimed‘s sci-fi predecessors, there’s definitely enough of a unique spin to keep this story feeling new.

Author Gavin doesn’t ignore that sci-fi history. Untimed does pay homage to time traveling adventures that have become iconic in the entertainment industry. The story includes numerous references, both direct and indirect, to pop culture series like Back to the Future and Sliders. I also got a strong Dr. Who feel thanks to the existence of seasoned time travelers and the steampunk, robotic villains that repeatedly show up to thwart them. I think Time Lord fans will enjoy Untimed, though Charlie plays more the role of the companion rather than possessing the charm and wisdom of the good Doctor.

Because the story is surprisingly adult in its content for a young adult novel, I think it broadens the range of readers the story will appeal to. The recent success of the Twilight and Hunger Games series have proven that the true audience for a young adult adventure can extend much wider than perhaps it was originally intended. While I did grow tired of Charlie’s lusting after Yvaine in the midst of the far more important time traveling and near-death experiences, it’s hard to argue that it doesn’t capture some of the essence of a 16-year-old boy’s mind.

Untimed is a quick read with action consistently moving the story forward, and the separation of scenes within each chapter keeps the story from ever getting bogged down. While our hero is regrettably the least interesting character in the story, he serves his purpose as the vehicle for the events that play out and the other characters involved. Untimed is a fun read for all of the young science fiction fans out there, and may even appeal to older readers. As the start of a new series, it’ll be interesting to see how young Charlie grows and the fantastical people and places he’ll encounter in his future (and past) travels.

A sample of Untimed can be found on Andy Gavin’s official website, and the complete book can be purchased through any of the links below:

Amazon E-Book ASIN: B006PIMYLY
Amazon Paperback ASIN: 1937945014
Amazon Hardcover ASIN: 1937945006
Barnes & Noble: 1108093415  (on hold for Kindle Select)
Google: 7o8wLIfFUcwC  (on hold for Kindle Select)
Apple iBooks: 494719226 (on hold for Kindle Select)
CreateSpace: 3751712

© 2012 – 2013, The Indie Mine. All rights reserved.

The quality of their sound and production is even more surprising when taking into account how young the band members are, ranging from ages 14 to 21. The band starts touring London on December 15th at the Amersham Arms. Music fans outside the UK can also judge for themselves because the band has released a music video along with the release of the EP.

© 2012 – 2013, The Indie Mine. All rights reserved.

The demo is available on Google Play and includes a small handful of levels for players to try out. The demo was released in order to garner some excitement for the game, and unit9.apps has launched an IndieGoGo campaign to turn that early interest into funds to help finish the game. Check out the trailer below, give the demo a whirl, and remember to stop by the campaign page if you like what you see.

© 2012 – 2013, The Indie Mine. All rights reserved.

Bugs will randomly appear on screen within the spider’s web and are tapped on to tell the spider to eat them. These bugs remain open prey for 10 seconds after which they turn poisonous. Let 10 bugs appear in the web and the game is over. Bonus points are awarded for successfully eating the same bug type multiple times in a row.

Easy controls and a simple premise definitely gear the playing experience towards short burst sessions. The game also includes a leaderboard and an achievement system.

For more details, check out the official site. Peckish Spider is currently available through the App Store for free.

© 2012 – 2013, The Indie Mine. All rights reserved.