DATE ARCHIVES : May 2019

Boe Weaver – ‘Polcut’

Boe Weaver are Isle of Wight-based production, mixing and songwriting duo centred around brothers Jim and Rob Homes.

Back in 2010, in the very early days of this blog, Boe Weaver released their self-titled debut record; a great record then and a great record now. Since then, the brothers Homes have concentrated their attention on production duties, most recently working with the likes of Rhys Lewis, Wolf People, The Archie Bronson Outfit, 77:78, Whyte Horses and Lauran Hibberd. However, nine years later, Boe Weaver are back with new material of their very own in the shape of single, ‘Polcut’. Enlisting the assistance of Isle of Wight musicians Samuel James and Pete Corney, as well as drummer Rupert Brown, for the single; ‘Polcut’ is magnificent.

It is an intoxicating cocktail of strange, exotic and heavily instrumental psychedelic tune. From the opening furious blast of organ, ‘Polcut’ demands your attention as we are dragged headlong through a frantic organ-led funk, that swaggers and cavorts on its way though an exotic world of kaleidoscopic escapism. Aided and abetted by glorious blasts of brass and organ as it grooves along, reaching explosive colourful highs before slumping to spooky subterranean vaults, then surging toward spectacular climactic eruption. A ferocious, exhilarating and imaginative five-and-a-half-minute trip; ‘Polcut’ is a phenomenon.

You can listen to ‘Polcut’ below. Nine years old it may be but I also wholeheartedly encourage you to check out their self-titled debut LP here.

MIYNT – ‘Vacation With Bond In South Of France Part 2’

A few years back, Stockholm artist MIYNT was carving out a name for lush, smooth pop music with a preference for orchestral flourish.

While quiet for sometime, MIYNT has broken radio silence with aplomb, serving us a gloriously rich and sultry slice of ‘riviera pop’ in the shape of Vacation With Bond In South Of France Part 2′. It is a smooth, stylish and suave theme for an imaginary Bond movie that slinks and struts on the back of groovy beats and funky guitar through a shimmering haze of swirling psych-textures and lush flourishes of grandiose orchestral pop. ‘Vacation With Bond In South Of France Part 2’ is lavish, sultry and smooth orchestral pop that will leave you all the better for letting it into your life.

Listen to ‘Vacation With Bond In South Of France Part 2’ below.

Simen Mitlid – ‘Trying’

Simen Mitlid is a Norwegian singer-songwriter hailing from the woodlands of Os, who has a precocious talent for lush, Nordic indie-folk.

Mitlid is preparing a follow-up to his wonderfully charming 2017 debut LP, Everything is the Same this year and having already treated us to the beautiful ‘Saturdays’ and ‘Tell Me Everything’, Mitlid completed the trifecta with new single ‘Trying’. It is gentle, bright and buoyant two-minutes of divine indie-folk. Bathed in a warm glow ‘Trying’ is intimate and touching, as it serenely bobs along buoyed by a perky mood, gentle strum, glimmer of organ/synth and irresistible melody. Amid the warm glow, there is a mild dose of melancholy due to Mitlid’s rich, emotive and tender vocal which is tempered (and equalled to perfection) by the soothing female vocals, for which sadly no name is attributed. Mitlid’s output this far has been nothing short of astounding and thankfully he shows no signs changing – ‘Trying’ is yet another absolute treasure.

Nothing concrete on the new album as yet – title, release date etc. – but for now, sit tight and enjoy ‘Trying’.

Jouska – ‘Titanic’

Oslo-based musical duo Jouska – comprised of Marit Othilie Thorvik and Hans Olav Settem – have impressed at every given opportunity with an intriguing and inventive array of singles and debut EP Frog Fiction, as they explore some of the more leftfield realms of electronica.

Latest single ‘Titanic’ comes from a similar realm of colourful cosmic imagination – albeit delivered in a slight more mellow package. Tempered by a breezy atmosphere and ethereal ambience, ‘Titanic’ moves softly over a gentle alluring groove protruded by bubbling synths and flecks of electronics, creating a lush and dreamy world of cosmic electronica. Amid this utterly beautiful soundscape, another alluring layer of bewitching beauty is provided by the heavenly, hushed and ever so melodic vocals. ‘Titanic’ is a lush, mellow and heavenly track, marked by moments of exquisite beauty and bouts of mild euphoria.

Listen to ‘Titanic’ below, it is lifted from their so far unnamed album expected at some stage in the future.

Honey Moon – ‘If I Could Only Dream’

London jangle-pop outfit Honey Moon croon their way into 2019 with new single ‘If I Could Only Dream’; and a first jangly serving since last year’s wonderful Four More From… EP.

Honey Moon have a real talent for crafting three minute plus pop gems and teaming up with Manchester’s Heist or Hit label again, ‘If I Could Only Dream’ is a joyous sunny gem that will please your ears and melt your heart. Hazy, bright and breezy, it is brimming with sinuous melodies, lilting hooks and jangly guitars. ‘If I Could Only Dream’ is quite lackadaisical for the most par but punctuated by a swelling sense of intensity vocally, which is matched by fervent riffs and pulsating percussion. This is another enchanting and whimsical illustration of classic pop-craft, Honey Moon have got a right knack for creating tunes the right side of familiar.

Tune into ‘If I Could Only Dream’ below now:

Telephone Explosions – ‘Still Water’

Telephone Explosions are experimental dream-pop duo Dolores Fogarty and Adrian Mee, formed in Maynooth in 2016.

After a brief hiatus in 2018, the Kildare pair will return with a new full-length album for 2019, and one heralded by new single ‘Still Water’. Outwardly, ‘Still Water’ appears to be dreamy affair laced with bewitching atmospheric tones, swirling textures and mesmerising elegance; however, beneath this chic veneer, there is bubbling undercurrent of apprehension and dread. While the beguiling qualities of Fogarty’s soothing silky vocals never falters, the serene ambience is pricked and prodded by manic bells, flurries of unsettling electronics and steamy drum beats. A dreamy meditative journey that is simultaneously beguiling, beautiful and foreboding; the juxtaposition is an instant hook and one that makes for an altogether wonderful song.

Listen to ‘Still Water’ below now and a new album is promised later in 2019.

Seatbelts – ‘Capitalist Confession’

We were introduced to the joyful guitar pop of Liverpool outfit Seatbelts with singles ‘Hey, Hey Tiger!’ & ‘Content Crush’ toward the close of 2018.

The Liverpool outfit – comprised from James Madden and Ryan Murphy of Hooton Tennis Club, and Abigail Woods and Alex Quinn – are back with new material for 2019 in the shape of ‘Capitalist Confession’. Lifted from their brand new EP Please Slow Down, it showcases their devil may care patchwork of loose, experimental styles which makes them so appealing.

Drawing on the combined vocal talents of Abi Woods, Ryan Murphy and James Madden, ‘Capitalist Confession’ is a colourful slice of off-kilter, avant psych-pop as the foursome critique Capitalism’s ability to destroy an individual. A charming, playful song shaped by heart-swelling melodies and sizzling exuberance, and those rich intertwined vocals resulting in a colourful explosion of lush instrumentation and contagious quirky guitar pop, culminating with a swelling, rousing and memorable chorus.

Listen to ‘Capitalist Confession’ below and if that is to your liking, why not give the entire EP a spin here.

Moullinex – ‘The Huggers’

Moullinex is the alter ego of Portuguese producer, DJ and multi-instrumentalist Luis Clara Gomes.

Moullinex’s preference for summery, tropical-infused sounds revolving mostly around disco house, synth pop, and new wave was born out with stunning effect on most recent album, Hypersex. The Portuguese producer is back with another single lifted from said record, and it bears all the aforementioned fun-filled colourful hallmarks of his sound. ‘The Huggers’ is upbeat, bright and funky as it skips along an infectious disco house groove flanked by wacky sense of fun, playful synths and bursts of neon colours, and most notably, his prodigious imagination. And for all this technical ability, his imagination is the star here. This is music that doesn’t take itself too seriously as he dares to go where others will not, while concocting something utterly contagious that could (and will) rock many a dance floor. A summery, feelgood and utterly infectious jam that will be bouncing around your head all week – pure unadulterated brilliance!

Listen to ‘The Huggers’ below & if that is to your liking, why not give Hypersex a spin here?

Strangers With Guns – ‘Problem Is You’

Strangers With Guns are a Dublin based trio who’s raucous sound is a hypnotic fusion of grunge, post-punk and early ’90s lo-fi indie-rock.

Their latest single is ‘Problem Is You’ and it captures all that this Dublin trio offer – and how. The gritty raw materials of slant-edged rhythms, searing riffs and furious percussion provide the perfect vehicle for raw, almost spoken word vocals, to hit home. There is a hint of threatening menace to ‘Problem Is You’ as it grinds and grunts its way through a murky but muscular world of riffs and distortion; much like Death in Vegas’ ‘Aisha’ duking it out with Slanted and Enchanted era Pavement. It is a strident, sharp sound that finds time for a cataclysmic climax toward the end too. A solid and encouraging opening gambit from a trio with bags of promise.

Listen to ‘Problem Is You’ below now:

Eyesore & The Jinx – ‘Swill’

Liverpool post-punks Eyesore & The Jinx introduced their wares with politically charged cacophony of pent up fury that is ‘On An Island’ back in February, and they have made a swift return with new single ‘Swill’.

Turning their cross-hairs and ire towards the peddlers of moral panic as they rail against the right-wing press, the Liverpool trio’s Eyesore & The Jinx’s latest single is as highly charged and exhilarating as its predecessor. Produced by Daniel Fox of Girl Band alongside Matthew Freeman at Fresh Goods Studio in Birkenhead, ‘Swill’ sets off at a furious, rollicking pace before settling into a jagged groove fuelled by panicky drums and bass shuffle, whilst vocalist Josh Miller barks his aggrieved fury toward, as he says himself, “the odious, perpetrators of moral panic, in all of its loathsome forms”. A frantic, caustic post-punk belter that’s nothing short of phenomenal

Listen to ‘Swill’ below: