Bryan Estepa - All The Bells And Whistles :: Not Lame Recordings - power pop and melodic rock record label, music and CDs

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Bryan Estepa - All The Bells And Whistles

Australian import of new arrival on the pop scene(although Estepa`s been around performing music for many years), "All The Bells And Whistles" is produced by Michael Carpenter and the classic soul-filled ambience that Carpenter`s talents to bring to his project is here in full force. Estepa`s album is a stunning collection of pop gems glazed in head-nodding hooks and romantic longing, spanning a sonic spectrum that echoes Gram Parsons lilting alt-country to You Am Is crunching mod-rockers. It`s inspirations are diverse yet blend in a coherent album that a total listening experience. Equal parts of early/mid 70`s Rolling Stones, Elliot Smith, Whiskeytown, a bit of 70`s soft rock(think Bread) and modern day power pop. On one level, it`s a classic rock album for the power pop lover, filled with assertive arrangements, pumping melodies, confident solos and on the other it`s a quintessential songwriter album, wonderfully restless to explore so many different musical vistas.

At its most gorgeously sublime, it floats through the openess of its created space, moving stars and planets with a sweep of the songs` core emotion. At its most poppy, Estepa delivers more than just another `nice little pop song`. With its warm familiarity and lack of pretence, Estepas sound is as refreshingly unassuming as its composer. Evidently, in Australia, Bryan Estepa has been described before as "one of Sydney`s best kept musical secrets". Here, it`s clear why. Extremely Highly Recommended!!

By The Window - mp3

Western Tale - mp3

Come Around - mp3

Sunshine - mp3

Right Now - mp3

Open Letter - mp3

Falling Through - mp3

Customer Reviews

Classic pop!

Reviewer: Liam McCoy

Far from the predictable three chord, predictable pop that one hears often in a local venue, this debut solo release from Mr. Estepa represents a songwriter approaching the peak of maturity. There is more than enough variation to satisfy the ears of even the most varacious consumer of pop here from the Faces style stomp of "By the Window", the breezy Beach Boys harmonies of "Western Tale" through to the killer pop chorus in "Sunshine". Country stylings get a workout on "Cards & AM Radio", and every flavour of pop seeps its way into the remaining tracks. Melody lines are constructed with thought and care they sink their hooks in deeply and twist where you mightn't expect (I've been humming "Sunshine" for days now), and have a complexity that stops them getting boring. For any fans of classic pop that traverses past and present decades, give this a try you won't be disappointed.