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Stormcellar, Basilisk
The basilisk – a mythical serpent that will slay you where you stand if you dare to look it in the eye – is an intriguing concept for a Stormcellar album. This is a band whose songs are unafraid to look a few hard truths right in the face – the truths that crack our hearts open, or the ones we ignore at our peril in our late-capitalist fug. In looking at things how they are, front on, the songs on Basilisk keep us plugged into this nutty life, yet still upright and putting one foot after the other. It’s a very human journey; in fact, the album unfurls like a journey, or a film soundtrack, which is the way it’s designed to be listened to – from beginning to end, treading its path in one 35-minute hit.
Stormcellar’s rollicking blues core is always strong, but it’s only part of the pleasure here. Where there’s blues, it’s the tightly written kind, slugged with rock and roll, and with lyrics that are grounded in the stuff of contemporary life. ‘A Little Too Much’ kicks us off with a crunch of guitar and Michael Barry’s wailing blues harp. It’s a hand-clapping good time, impossible not to stomp to. (‘You can shake your egg and beat it’ – sure, have yourself a sexy omelette, why not?) It pairs perfectly with ‘I Wanna Get Next to You’ in capturing the fun that flesh-and-blood humans have with each other, this time with a growling refrain and a leave-no-doubts directness, not to mention Paul Read’s slide guitar all over it – building the tension and always in service to the song, never flying off on a self-indulgent whim.
‘Something to Go By’, with its country flavour, offers a quieter moment of connection, affecting and simple. ‘I don’t need to hear other people’s business’ – amen to that! ‘Hey Head in the Clouds’ is a sunny slice of optimism, punctuated by banjo and guitar (courtesy of the James Brothers) and cheerful harmonies; fingers crossed that it bolsters the confidence of its subject who has ‘lived a life less ordinary’. That’s another Basilisk theme: stepping outside the normal flow of things for a less-ordinary life, attuned to what is whispered in the darker corners.
It’s a theme that bubbles up in ‘We Will Not Be Forgotten’, as Skypta Vind’s electronic pulse anchors the otherworldly vocals that beam in ‘like a call from outer space’. A crackling comms link features on the brief ‘Running and Screaming’, which offers a warning from the other side (somewhere) – ‘Can’t say if we’re gonna survive / Be sure to smash that like and subscribe!’ Dropping bombs based on a millions thumbs-up doesn’t actually seem too far off, but let’s hope Stormcellar don’t win the award for best dystopian prediction any time soon.
The sweeping ‘Giants Fall’, with its tender cello motifs, is a worthy closer. ‘Go and break my heart’, one of the track’s repeated refrains, does what it says on the tin (i.e. beware the heartbreak, all ye unwary listeners), while the ending – ‘All I want is to forget myself’ – suggests how (regrettably) impossible that is.
Michael Barry’s vocals are as malleable as these songs, and he can deliver a vocal in a seemingly infinite number of modes: gruff, conversational, quiet, or with one eyebrow raised, but all of them seeking connection. Because the words are important here, and there’s meaning to be had on even the most fleeting listen. Lines like ‘Angry’s how you show you care’ (‘We Will Not Be Forgotten’) or ‘Chasing unicorns kinda wears me down’ (‘Something to Go By’) leap out, with the rest of their story filled out on repeated plays.
Just as important is what happens around every lyric – Paul Read’s slide guitar textured and affecting one minute, raucous and rowdy the next, and the unflappable rhythm of Theo Wanders underpinning it all (on the insistent, beautifully handled shuffle of ‘Fantasia on “Dreams of Better Days”’, for instance), no matter what musical cuisine is on the menu. Noel Little and Ben Halin on bass, and Paul Surany on guitar, are integral too, and the guest artists add depth, along with production that pushes at the edges of what these songs can do.
So if this is what happens when the basilisk tricks you into a staring contest, let’s have at it. Locking eyes with hard truths is risky, but it can be a hell of a good time too. And with Stormcellar as your guide, it’s a risk worth taking.
(Emma Driver, April 2024)

I am so stoked. I freaking love country runs. 

Seriously. In the car, on the highway, road out before you. And as you drive on the less travelled ways, deeper into the mystery of New South Wales, the cars thin out.

Remember I once did that Video on a go pro for a full trip with no one in front of us? refresher: 

Also the reason we wrote that song? You are not allowed to put the words country and radio in a Country Song for submission in Tamworth and face it we are cheeky little rascals sometimes. Hence 'country radio' LOL...ahem.

Anyway, for the first time since COVID, we're doing a mini tour yaaaaaay.  Art and details to follow, good vibes to report.

My how things change. I've been using the image generators and now my mate Tommy has shown me the music generators.

Holy crap LOL.

Oh well. 

Busy week coming up with a drum session for Theo for 'liquidator' and '2 week millionaire', plus a bass session, then mixing.

We've had a quiet non gigging time and that's been nice but things are starting to get busier.

I still havent integrated the Patreon stuff and here cos I don't wanna spend ANOTHER $10 a month on software subscriptions, this nicekl and dime stuff argh!

www.patreon.com/stormcellar375 dont ask me, thats just how it went, spend a few bucks with us and I'll use'em to fend off the robots. or hire robots. Or dress up as a robot.

Speaking of which, I am using a new image generator for some more vids. Stay tuned.

Stormcellar – Basilisk: All Hail the Basilisk

Self Released

https://www.stormcellar.com.au/

10 tracks/35 minutes

A new Stormcellar album is always something I can’t wait to sink my teeth into. The Michael Barry is the lead alchemist who puts things together and he’s delivered a fantastic new effort for us to enjoy.

Barry is a creative musical genius who produces, writes songs, sings, blows harp and plays synthesizer/keys. He is edgy, breaks all the rules and yet delivers music to us that is superbly approachable and just fun to listen to. I don’t use the term musical genius lightly; he is just that and more.

Long term Stormcellar band mate Paul Reed, affectionately known as Mr. Wizard, co-wrote seven of the ten songs here. He plays guitar; his slide guitar is hard to beat. He also adds tambora, a two-headed drum used in merengue and other forms of music.  Theo Wanders is the third part of the Stormcellar triad, playing drums and handling percussion. These three guys have played together for a long time and are the heart of the band.

Also appearing here are Paul Surany on guitar and Noel Little on bass. Ben Halin is on bass for the next to last track. Abdelrahman Hariry adds his cello on the final track. Johnny G is on piano on the opening cut. Pat Powell adds backing vocals on “Soothsayer.” Michael Hawke is on sax for the title track of sorts. Other credits listed in the review of the songs.

A basilisk is a mythical snake-like venemous lizard that purportedly killed it's victims as they gazed into it's eyes. The legends go back to at least year 79 of the Common era, beginning with Pliny the Elder. Many others have reported on the beast, including Chaucer and da Vinci, and recently in print and film in the Harry Potter series. Some purport the legend began as man and the cobra came together, but over the centuries it has become the legendary king of the snakes, and now the theme for this album.

“A Little Too Much” opens the set. The tune reminds be a bit of the Rolling Stones, rocking out with an edgy bluesy-ness. Barry blows some truly wicked harp and sings with fierceness while Mr. Wizard gives us an all-out guitar assault to savor. This is a superb opener! Next is “Fantasia on “Dreams of Better Days.” A driving and precise beat by Theo and great vocal lead along with the pretty and ethereal support work make this one a winner.

“Hey Head In The Clouds” follows and features the James Brothers who supply banjo and vocals on this track. Barry sings lead in this rootsy and cool cut. It’s got a 1960’s sort of vibe going with a folksy rock feel to it. “I Wanna Get Next To You” is next up which has a dark and interesting intro and hardcore lyrics and lead and slide guitar. It’s quite cool.

Following that is “Something To Go By,” a blues rocker with a slick twang to it. Barry sings with feeling and the slide guitar gives us a lot to enjoy here. “We Will Not Be Forgotten/Tears of the Basilisk, Seeds of Destruction” features Skypta Vinda who arranged and sequenced the track. I’m trying to classify a genre or three here; perhaps a psychedelic, progressive rock ballad with church hymn and blues influences works. It’s interesting and cool. The throbbing beat, heady organ, march-like drumbeat and starry vocals grab the listener. The song concludes with sax, piano as part of an amazing outro.

“Running Screaming” continues the sensory onslaught. Vocals with a military aviation radio sound, a wacked out and cool groove and just more fun music to listen to. They follow that with “Soothsayer,” another number whose sound seems to remind me of the 1960s. Barry adds vocal effects to good effect, another quite intriguing piece of music.

“Replacement Heroes” has an almost didgeridoo synthesized sound effect that grabs at you. Barry sings in his forceful and convincing manner as the cut drives along to a slick groove. The album concludes with “Giants Fall.” This one opens melodically as a rock ballad that builds into a towering piece. The cello and guitar play off each other well, Barry sings with intense passion as the song winds along powerfully.

All the cuts are eclectically mixed and produced as one would expect from Stormcellar. Is it blues? Hard to tell. It’s a little bit of everything. It’s very much Stormcellar at their best. If you’ve heard them before, you know what I mean and will want to get a hold of this album. If you haven’t then go get this album so you can add Stormcellar to your playlist. You won’t regret it. Another fine endeavor by Australia’s best blues and roots rock band!

Steve Jones

President

Crossroads Blues Society