DATE ARCHIVES : July 2019

Alexis Neon – ‘Sink Into It’

Alexis Neon are a dream-pop duo based in Ottawa, Canada.

Buoyed by a flair for rich, dreamy soundscapes, the Canadian pair reside in an enchanted world of calming sounds, hazy vibes and rich melody, marked by an omnipresent melancholy.  

Alexis Neon’s new single ‘Sink Into It’ is lifted form their forthcoming Seven Windows EP, and is a case in point. ‘Sink Into It’ is a dusty and cinematic cut imbued with a hazy melancholy and rich melodic purr that makes you privy to every iota of emotion. It is a dreamy journey along an undulating meandering groove through transfixing hazy textures and moody, slumbering and somewhat gloomy atmospheres as we’re treated to breezy and mellifluous vocals, delivered with elegance and stirring commanding craft. ‘Sink Into It’ is all kinds of wonderful – it captivates, evokes emotion and thrills in equal measure.

Listen to ‘Sink Into It’ below and keep those eyes peeled for the Seven Windows EP.

Whyte Horses – ‘The Best Of It’

Manchester psych-pop outfit Whyte Horses produced one of last year’s most enjoyable records with Empty Words, whisking us off to a land of blissful, dreamy psychedelia that sounds both familiar yet fresh.

Whyte Horses are back with a single called ‘The Best Of It‘, lifted from the aforementioned LP, it is draped in all the wonderfully uplifting and timeless tropes that makes the record such a gem. Featuring La Roux on vocals, it is a cover of an obscure late 60’s West Coast psych-folk group called Thorinshield, it captures the beautiful and joyous sound of Whyte Horses. Unsurprisingly, it is a superb piece of pop music. Marked by melancholy yet bursting with sun-kissed tones, it swaggers gently along a seductive groove as a Soul brass section weaves around La Roux’s forlorn lyrics, with an added breezy harmonies bringing a lush 60’s California-esque vibe. This is peak Whyte Horses, and their knack for borrowing from the old and creating something new and contemporary, yet simultaneously timeless

Listen to ‘The Best Of It‘ below.

Introducing: K J M

K J M is the moniker for Irish musician and producer Kevin James Murphy (who also records as The Key Rocks).

The K J M project offers a series of thoughtful and cinematic explorations of electronic sound, utilising only sounds and loops available on Garage Band, as evidenced on debut album Jelacate. The album traverses various electronic musical landscapes, exploring themes of melody and mood as a gorgeous confection of ambient instrumental music that ebbs and flows through lush, atmospheric, cinematic drifts of retro futurism as it depicts a trip to Tokyo. Take ‘Divide’ and ‘The Sea’ as examples. ‘Divide’ harnesses a deep, warm, winding synth, hypnotic phasing sound and floaty atmospherics to create a gripping, transportive and transfixing track; moody, atmospheric and elegant, it will consume you. ‘The Sea’ hypnotises as it opens softly, lapping like its namesake but propelled forward by tidy percussion as a steady release of shimmering warm sounds, cloudy atmospherics and gentle guitar chords complete the lush picture. As an experiment, one could only say it is a success, delivering as it does, an abundance of ethereal beauty and cinematic escapism.

You can check out ‘Divide’ and ‘The Sea’ below and if they are to your liking, you can check out the album here.

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Black Beach Baby – ‘All I Know’

Black Beach Baby are Stockholm-based duo of Andy and My, who since forming in 2017, have been bringing all the gorgeous, dreamy indie-pop vibes – and with their single ‘All I Know’ delivers all that and more.

We got acquainted with the Swedish pair through previous single ‘Loser’ – a magnificent slice of melodic guitar pop – and ‘All I Know’ follows a similarly joyous path. It is bright, breezy and dreamy as hazy guitar, jangling riffs and snappy beat set the lush and alluring backdrop for the hushed and airy vocal tones to thrive. Dripping with a rich melody, ‘All I Know’ is buoyed by irresistible hooks and pop sensibilities as they charm our ears with their warm and infectious brand of lo-fi indie-pop. What they do is deceptively simple and that is by no means a bad thing; they just craft great songs.

Listen to the beautiful and sun-kissed sounds of ‘All I Know’ below:

Springfield Elementary – ‘Machine Fiend’

Springfield Elementary are Manchester-based post-punk powerhouse comprised of Billy Goodwin (Vocals/Guitar), Brad Lewis (Lead Guitar), Liam Moffat (Bass) and Chris Tomkinson (Drums).

The foursome introduce their raw, raucous and thrilling post-punk (with an underlying garage-rock and punk element) sound with new single ‘Machine Fiend’. A frantic and exhilarating opening offering, it explodes into life with a meaty guitar, chugging bassline and furious crashing drum combo, like releasing a coiled up spring. Searing riffs, fuzz, distortion and furious fast-paced insure it becoming even more brash, jagged and caustic as it shoots off with volatility as vocals spat out with venom. It is a short, sharp and muscular intro that is exhilarating and bursting with vitality and will have you headed straight for repeated plays.

Tune into ‘Machine Fiend’ below:

MARTH – ‘Golden Hour’

MARTH is a multi-Instrumental producer/composer from Netherlands who’s sound is born from a preference for Future Beats with hip hop, electronica and jazz influences.

Utilising a mix of electronic and live instruments, with an emphasis on trumpet, MARTH creates a chilled sound brimming with positivity and natural rhythm, and latest single ‘Golden Hour’ is a perfect case in point. Inspired by a painting from Van Gogh, it a trumpet focused chilled three-minutes. A laid-back groove slides along lulling you into this relaxing world, making your mind susceptible the serene mixture of soulful electronics, 90s chill, jazzy vibes with an added hip-hop pulse, and funky, brazen beat beneath. It is quite wistful and thought provoking, set to a scene of serenity, leaving you refreshed, relaxed and chilled.

Tune in below:

Introducing: Memes

Memes are Glasgow lo-fi post punk noise-making duo of cousins John and Paul McLinden.

The pair introduce their fast, furious and feisty post-punk with double A-side debut single, ‘Blah Blah Blah‘ and ‘Funny Man‘ – a thrilling, raw and exhilarating opening salvo. ‘Blah Blah Blah‘ is dismissive and prickly as crunchy guitar, winding riffs, mesmerising meaty bass and furious fast-paced beat provide the backdrop for the barbed tones of the frantic, volatile and sardonic vocals. ‘Funny Man‘ meanwhile, is even more brash, jagged and caustic as it shoots off with a jerky and hyperactive fervour while vocally it is even more agitated and spat out with an increased bite and bark – while tempered with a wee bit more of a melodic sensibility. Two short, sharp and thrilling blasts of attitude filled post-punk vigour (with flashes of parts Sluts of Trust, The Fall & HMHB) that will have you stretching for the repeat button.

Listen to ‘Blah Blah Blah’ & ‘Funny Man’ below:

Kastane – ‘Shimmers’

Kastane is an electronic music project from Irish producer and drummer Alan Walsh, and beginning life as a side project while in Berlin, he has two EPs to his name Tunnels EP (2017) and Trang EP (2018), with a third expected in the future. 

With the latter in mind, Kastane has released ‘Shimmers’; a sophisticated, transfixing and melodic eight-minutes. While heavy on mood, texture and atmosphere with relentless oscillations transfixing, given that he is a card carrying member of drummers union, ‘Shimmers’ true strength and allure is sourced from its rhythmic and percussive power. As it unfolds, layer upon layer of sound evolves, the rhythm remains focused as beats are unleashed with pinpoint precision, while tight drum pads and sharp synth notes dual to create an alternate beat. ‘Shimmers’ is elegant, bewitching and sophisticated and will bend you to its mighty will, leaving you utterly powerless to resist it’s tempting allure.

Listen to ‘Shimmers’ below: 

Strange Neighbors – ‘Hilltopper’

Strange Neighbors are indie-pop foursome – Aidan (vocals), Tracey (drums), Dana (bass) and Zach (guitar) – based in New York.

Together, they craft effervescent guitar-pop that is sometimes quiet, sometimes loud, and sometimes somewhere in between, but always the sweet sort of sound to paste smiles of faces. Definitely of that ilk is ‘Hilltopper’ – the first lifted from their forthcoming debut album How to Human – and its a bright and breezy three minutes of pristine guitar-pop that cruises along with infectious ease. Bright, buoyant and infectious, it builds upon an enchanting flair for pop and lush, sinuous melodies, and met with an irresistible guitar-jangle, sweet, honeyed vocals and a delicious layer of The Primitives-esque sparkle. A bright and breezy slab of fizzy, energetic guitar-pop – pop perfection personified; it is an allure that is charming, enchanting and altogether impossible to resist.

Tune in below:

BDRMM – ‘Question Mark’

BDRMM are a Hull based 5-piece who reside in a world blurring the lines between ‘90s indie-rock, shoegaze, psych and slacker dream pop.

They introduced intricately weaved dreamy sonics and sentimental tales with singles ‘C.U’ and ‘Heaven’ over the past nine months, and they are back new single ‘Question Mark’. Teaming up with Sonic Cathedral’s Singles Club it is slowburning, gently anthemic and highly evocative as we take a slumbering stroll through a woozy world of layered swirling textures. Anchored by shimmering guitar, ‘Question Mark’ floats like a lackadaisical daydream, the delicate instrumentals the bouncy for the dreamy vocals and bittersweet lyrics. A moving, evocative and elegant slice of dream-pop perfection, yet another exquisite single from BDRMM.

Listen to ‘Question Mark’ below: