Bandcamp Spotlight: Vienna Ditto

Voodoo Sc fi blues is a weird descriptor for a musical act a blatant understatement of course. After reading this descriptor piqued my interest as intended. I didn’t go in with high hopes after suffering through “Muppet Christ Superstar” and other oddities like the cacophony of experimental noise by Too Many Zooz. So I clicked on the title track of Vienna Ditto’s “Liar Liar” and was relieved and joyful that Bandcamp had finally answered my call for an enjoyable new artist.
Vienna Ditto is made up of singer Hattie Taylor and guitarist Nigel Firth. The duo meet when the latter was tutoring the former in guitar lessons when they were 11. The duo lost touch but eventually reunited by a chance meeting. The British duo was brought  back together by their love of dirty Chicagoan blues, dark psychedelia and gospel.
Vienna Ditto have yet to release a debut album and have released 4 EP’s. “Liar Liar” was released February 2013 not the latest release though that being September 2013s “Ugly, it is the current offering being recommended by Bandcamp.coms staff picks.

(Since the time of writing the duo released their first studio album in 2015 titled circle)

Bandcamp is a site for musicians where they can sell their music and merchandise and unlike other services, the artists keep most of the profits as well as are able to set their own prices. Bandcamp also allows artists to keep easy track of their fanbase and provided every format under the sun that their fans require.

The digital version of Vienna Ditto’s “Liar Liar” is name your own price allowing listeners to pay whatever amount they feel the EP is worth from $0 to however much they are willing to give.
The cover art of “Liar Liar” is a butterfly in silhouette with the words “Liar Liar” written on it. A simple yet elegantly complex cover a taste of things to come.
“Liar Liar”

This is the title track of the EP and its namesake. Near the end of this track Voodoo, Scfi blues does not seem like a too far off descriptor for this duo. Heavy drumming and alien-like phaser sounds interlude near the end of this track. This first track is a strong showing that hooks the listener in and makes them crave more.  Lyrics like “Your mouth runs away like your tongue is on fire” over heavy drumming and dark electronic sounds create a unique track that leaves the listener wondering what’s to come next.

“The Undefeated”

This track has a southern feel where the blues influence can easily be heard. The lyrics also help with his with “Lord have mercy on us all” This track sounds like a dark electronic version of a country or blues song. The chord progression may remind the listener of Johnny Cash’s “God’s Gonna Cut you down” while also holding a southern Gothic feel the latter lacks. This sounds like a track that should be following Cole and Rust on HBO’s true detective.

“What Comes My Way”

This is my least favorite track on this EP. The vocals remain “spooky and sexy” as described by members of their site. But I don’t have much to say about this track. It is a fine piece but doesn’t draw much from me.
“Little Fingers”

This my favorite track on this EP. The vocal performance is both “spooky” and entrancing. I especially like the delivery of “Let it be undone nothing lasts forever” near the midway point of the track. The combination of dark melody and Taylor’s vocals stand out the most on this track and I believe is the highlight of this solid EP.
Overall Thoughts

Those seeking spooky melody with gospel influence should come on down. As well as those just interested in trying an uncommon fusion of style perfect for soundtracks.

https://viennaditto.bandcamp.com/album/liar-liar bandcamp.com

Bandcamp Spotlight: The Mermaidens

“Close to the ocean go down slow. Hold yourself under we’ll grow grow together” these are the lyrics to “Ocean O” by the Mermaidens off their EP O. The vocals combined with the lyrics makes for a seductive and eerie listen much like the mermaids siren song. Which is fitting for a band called the Mermaidens.

The band hails from Wellington, New Zealand which is New Zealand’s second most populous urban area. The band brings together the three-person trio of Lily West (co-lead vocals, guitar), Abe Hollingsworth (Drums) and Gussie Larkin (vocals, guitar)

The Mermaidens take influence from the Psychedelic Pop of the 60s which is heard in their vocal style and trippy guitar riffs. The Mermaidens though have taken this dreamy style and added a darker tinge reminiscent of an industrial sound. These elements combined serve to give the band their haunting and seductive sound. The songs could most definitely be imagined as the closing credits to an episode of “True Detective”.

The songs bring their listener to a dream-like state though not bright and colorful ones, but dark vivid dreams ones that you don’t want to look away from. One fan in a blurb about their EP “O” puts it like this “To me, they are especially good when I am playing the Binding of Isaac.” to those unfamiliar the Binding of Issac is an indie rougelike inspired by the biblical story of Issac. The game starts a child name Issac and has the player face dark themes such as neglect, suicide, child abuse and others.

O is the band latest release from June 2014. Consisting of three tracks the cost of the EP is "name your price" allowing for listeners to name their own price from $0 to whatever amount their heart desires to pay for the album.

The first track titled “Wander” and runs 05:01. This song starts off fairly light in its riffs and drum beats before progressively getting darker in its tone in the middle of the track. It’s a catchy song and a serviceable one, but not my favorite.

The second track titled “Cold Skin and runs again 05:01. This song starts eerie right off the bat with a dark moody riff. The accompanying lyrics build on the moodiness of the instrumental “Who are you, why are you messing with mind?” While I felt the last track was by no means a bad track it dragged on for me and didn’t showcase the band’s uniqueness like this one.

The last track on this three track EP is the aforementioned “Ocean O” running the shortest length at 02:10. If it wasn’t already obvious this is the pinnacle of this EP for me and my favorite track. The riffs here are subtly creating a chilling atmosphere. As mentioned previously the vocals are seductively haunting. Every time I listen to this track I can’t help, but picture a mermaid luring someone with her song and leaving them at the bottom of the ocean.

Check them out on bandcamp.com