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Album Review

Couldn’t Be Happiers unleashes a harmonious ode to modern existence with its EP “Couple(t)s Side A”

Couldn't Be Happiers

Get ready to be enchanted as North Carolina’s folk-rock duo Couldn’t Be Happiers invites listeners into their universally resonant anthems by releasing their eagerly awaited EP masterpiece, “Couple(t)s Side A.” This ambitious and heartfelt six-track collection brimm with introspection, poetic storytelling, and bold sonic exploration. The timeless melodies EP showcases the duo’s signature blend of heart-on-sleeve authenticity and genre-defying artistry.

More than a clever title, “Couple(t)s Side A” celebrates Jodi Hildebran Lee (playing drums, vocals, harmonica) and Jordan Crosby Lee (guitar, vocals) both as a married couple and as fervent admirers of poetic couplets. Produced in collaboration with Doug Davis of Flytrap Music Production, the EP is a testament to the duo’s harmonious synergy that defines their partnership in music and life. Organized thematically into categories of romantic compositions, protest anthems, and folk narrative ballads, the EP interweaves a complex tapestry of emotion, resulting in a work that is both diverse and cohesive.

The EP evocatively begins with Come Back Tomorrow,” a euphoric folk-rock brilliance brimming with optimism and hope. With assertive harmonies and striking lead vocals, the track embodies a poignant reflection on the resilience of love and community amidst the uncertainties of modern life. The title track, When I Die,” follows with a soulful warmth that lays bare life’s imperfections through melancholic yet therapeutic tones.

Each subsequent track deepens the EP’s emotional and thematic complexity. Plastic Bag Odyssey (I’ll Never Die) delivers a skillfully crafted critique against societal ills, while Tear It Down electrifies with timeless folk-infused grooves and emotive instrumentation. The hauntingDevil’s Tramping Ground pairs dynamic beats with a dreamlike atmosphere, exploring the euphoria of discovery. Closing the EP, Pretty Polly leaves an indelible mark with its hauntingly introspective folk narrative, with trembling vibrato and seamless narrative flow.

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With robust instrumentation including sousaphone, melodica, accordion, and musical saw, “Couple(t)s Side A” captures the essence of the duo’s dynamic live performances while pushing the boundaries of their artistry. It’s a sonic odyssey that invites listeners into the intimate, heartfelt world of Couldn’t Be Happiers, blending classic folk vibes with modern, introspective charm.

This EP marks a significant milestone in the duo’s growing discography, highlighting their unique approach to songwriting and storytelling. As Couldn’t Be Happiers continues to evolve and innovate, “Couple(t)s Side A” firmly solidifies its place as an exciting rising voice in the folk-rock scene.

For more information about Couldn’t Be Happiers, please visit [website].
CLICK HERE TO STREAM Couldn’t Be Happiers’ EP Couple(t)s Side A on Spotify.
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Album Review

Paul Terry, Aptøsrs & Cellarscape unite on bold new album “Alternative Piano Club”

Combining his three artistic alter egos, Paul Terry presents an awe-inspiring new 12-track album, “Alternative Piano Club,” written in collaboration with Aptøsrs and Cellarscape. This is an album-length voyage of music that blends acoustic, rock, and piano-driven cinematic sounds.

Torn between this complex emotional spectrum, all the while the piano remains at its core throughout. Paul Terry opens his “Memento Mori (Chromogenic Phase)” contemplatively, creating a solemn, reflective mood. Cellarscape’s “Three Years Of Roses is warmer, whereas Aptøsrs’ “Questionnaires is much more textured as a large, sculptural post-rock.

“Dave’s Theme,” written by Paul Terry, musically expands the narrative with a touch of cinematic elevation that aligns well. “We Shape The Clouds” by Cellarscape is fluffy and heart-warming, “Writers Behind The Curtain” is somber, more narrative. We are all together in “A Place We Made,” an honest, intimate, emotionally grounded space.

The project contains vocal warmth and cultural depth in the song “This Is My Home by Silas Miami & Lana Crowster. Proceeding in a totally different direction is the stronger emotional clarity of Paul Terry’s acoustic storytelling on “Any Time You Want To Fly” and “No Sleep Has Come.” Cellarscape presents a wide, spacious atmospheric moment in “Cygnus,” while Aptøsrs ends with “Rust Mountain (Monochrome Piano Version),” a simple gem that brings the project full circle.

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The mixing of Sam Okell and Adam Noble, the mastering of Alex Wharton and Robin Schmidt have, in many ways, brought their polish to it while still making it feel human. “Alternative Piano Club” is a work entity, where three musical personalities met and talk mind in the same emotional language.

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Album Review

Mt. Kili Mt. Kili delivers quiet power and honest reflection on “The Noticer” (album)

Mt. Kili

Mt. Kili’s latest album, “The Noticer,” is a warm, contemplative acoustic folk album that finds beauty in the minutiae of life itself, as calm and bare as anyone would call it. Songwriter Rick Sichta of Asheville leads the project with delicate instrumentation and outspoken lyrics, bringing forth an experience that can be both personal and universal. 

Recorded at Echo Mountain Studio in Asheville, the music is refined and mastered by Grammy Award-winning Julian Dreyer and David Glasser. The current lineup still embodies this vision, with Matt Shepard holding down a heavy rhythmic backbone and Laney Barnett’s violin and vocals rounding out the sound, creating emotion.

There is a story and emotion hidden within each track. The EP opens with “Don’t Start a War,” which opens contemplatively, begging for peace rather than war. The title track, “The Noticer,” exudes a sense of awareness and the beauty of watching life unfold. “The Rain Song” features a soothing, near-meditative vibe.

With a hopeful reflection, “The Road Isn’t as Long as It Seems” is about perspective and perseverance. “Her Song” is pretty much a musical love letter, and “Kyle” is defined by its character-driven narrative. With “The Weather Report,” the change of feeling is reflected, while “Scars “ and “Strawberry Fields” hint at memories and softening imagery. “All in Good Time” concludes the record patiently, a soothing sigh of comfort. “The Noticer” is a reflective album with a soft reminder that sometimes the smallest moments mean the most.

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