DATE ARCHIVES : March 2021

Seatbelts – ‘Citylines’

Liverpool outfit Seatbelts have been charming us with beautifully crafted bouts of guitar pop at each and every opportunity over the past few years.

Comprised from James Madden and Ryan Murphy of Hooton Tennis Club, and Abigail Woods and Alex Quinn, Seatbelts return with new single ‘Citylines’ and the foursome have delivered the goods yet again – and with the aid of new collaborators Christian Sandford (guitar, BIRD) and Sarah Sands (saxophone, Green Tangerines) adding layers of added depth to their sound. 

Lifted from their forthcoming EP Welcome Simplicity, written and recorded in 2020 ‘Citylines’ is about yearning for experience. Yearning for the feeling of space, bathed in nature beyond the realms of a dysfunctional city. ‘Citylines’ is brimming with a sense of optimism that swells to a euphoric climax as guitars chime, shimmer and twang atop a rhythmic groove amid lavish layers of synth before shifting through the gears to a rousing finish. It is yet another stunning tune from Seatbelts and their quality catalog continues to grow.


Check out ‘Citylines’ below & Welcome Simplicity on the 16th of April, 2021


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Air Devi – ‘Mosquitos in the Backyard’

Air Devi is the moniker of Philadelphia singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Devi Majeske.

The project began life as home recorded lo-fi indie pop before releasing debut EP, ‘Swanning About’ last year, before signing off on 2020 with superb single ‘Move Without Place’. Devi has opened her 2021 account with new single ‘Mosquitos in the Backyard’; a lush, colourful confection of woozy, starry-eyed dream-pop. Devi’s syrupy smooth vocals drift over a bubbling bassline groove that seductively slaloms through a plush haze of woozy guitars and swirling atmospheric tones. It is dreamy, heartfelt and intoxicating sound as Devi’s voice continues to be cast in a series of woozy settings, with beguiling results.

Listen to ‘Mosquitos in the Backyard’ below – you won’t be disappointed

AUTORHYTHM – ‘Endorphins’

‘Endorphins’ is the aptly titled, and hypnotic debut single from Swedish producer Joakim Forsgren aka AUTORHYTHM. 

The AUTORHYTHM  sound finds a home in a space between Krautrock, Techno, Acid and No Wave that whisks us off to a futuristic world composed of layered improvisations, each in response to the prior layer building grooves and sounds in an all consuming seduction. These aforementioned quality are found in abundance on debut ‘Endorphins’ as it builds and builds with layers of bubbling synth and winding grooves atop of metronomic beatwork. It is a  subtle, nuanced and transfixing, dancefloor minded, kosmische techno sound. Heavy on layers, mood, texture and atmosphere with relentless oscillations, driving techno beat and pulsating synth that captivates and hypnotises in equal measure. Driving, pulsating and relentless – a triumph.

Listen to ‘Endorphins’ below now:

Maida Rose – ‘Where Do We Go’

Maida Rose is dream-pop pairing of Roos Meijer and Javièr den Leeuw from Dutch seaside city the Hague. 

Early days it maybe, having two tracks to their name, the duo have already left a mark on 2021 with debut ‘Harmony of Heartache’ and current single ‘Where Do We Go’. It is a richly melodic and dreamy, underpinned by a sense of wistfulness, and endearingly languid, relaxed feel. Smooth, breathy vocals swirl around a gentle strum, shimmers of guitar, subtle-bass-groove and mellow melodies cast in lush, dreamy and beguiling atmospheres. ‘Where Do We Go’ pangs with heartfelt nostalgia, nostalgic for a dream that has passed but it has a lovely, human optimism, and leaves a warm wistful glow and a feeling that all things – good, bad or indifferent – eventually pass. Utterly beautiful, beguiling and hypnotic.

Listen to ‘Where Do We Go’ below now:


Sprints – ‘Swimming’

Sprints are Dublin-based post-punk foursome – of Karla Chubb (vocals/guitar), Colm O’Reilly (guitar), Sam McCann (bass) and Jack Callan (drums) – who together, create a raw, raucous and potent post-punk sound – one bursting with a ferocious blend snarling vocals, driving rhythms, meaty riffs, swagger and noise.

Sprints have already left an indelible mark with 2020 singles ‘Manifesto’ & ‘The Cheek’, and are back with ‘Swimming’, the third and final track lifted from their four-track debut EP Manifesto (produced by Daniel Fox from Girlband). ‘Swimming’ is a powerful force of nature, exploding to life with a raucous energy Chubb’s raspy vocal ricochets off the intense locked in rhythmic power below. It is a thunderous ride atop driving bass groove, choppy guitar tone, meaty riffs and pounding drums. Like previous singles, ‘Swimming’ is a huge, explosive, taut and confident anthem – a simply stunning tune.

Listen to ‘Swimming’ below and Sprints’ Manifesto EP is out on March 26.


Y.LOH – ‘VVITCH’

Y.LOH is a New York-based and Sonoran Desert-raised DJ and producer with a preference for minimal, downtempo house – and drawing inspiration and identity from natural environments and surroundings, Y.LOH attempts to connect with his homestead, the edgy and beautiful Sonoran Desert.

Y.LOH opened their 2021 account with the hypnotic ‘6 Train’ and is back with other mesmerising track ‘VVITCH’. Lifted from compilation album A Tribe Called Kotori, it slinks seductively along a syrupy groove as synths pulse and burst atop a compelling rhythmic force and slick beatwork. ‘VVITCH’ meanders along with hypnotising effect the groove grows and beats increase the tension, and synths and electronics flare to piercing through the increasingly murky air. Murky as it may be, as is the Y.LOH calling card, ‘VVITCH’ is illuminated by a deft touch for beats, groove and atmosphere.

Listen to ‘VVITCH’ below and you can check out A Tribe Called Kotori here

Amber Jay – ‘The House’

Amber Jay is a Liverpool-based artist and musician with a real flair in the way of captivating, synth-splashed, electronic alt-pop – and this flair is matched by an enviable embrace for experimentation and pushing the boundaries.

Jay introduced this penchant for futuristic synth-fueled alt-pop with a slew of stellar singles which has culminated in debut EP Never Too Far From A Dark Thought, and fronted by single ‘The House’. Rarely does an artist bring so many alternating facets of sound to bear, while crafting a sound so cohesive, captivating and transfixing – but in the case of Amber Jay, that’s the raison d’etre. ‘The House’ is another sliver of otherworldly futuristic alt-pop, grounded in haunting folk and fueled by synth. Jay’s icy vocal drifts above a chilling strum and eerie atmosphere while a slowly marching beat and rippling synth carve a path for us traverse an ever-evolving and cinematic soundscape that leaves an indelible mark on your psyche. Much like its predecessors, ‘The House’ is vibrant and alive, and effortlessly transcending genres.

Listen to ‘The House’ below and the Never Too Far From A Dark Thought EP is here.


Asta Hiroki – ‘Slumber’ feat. Dontmesswithjuan

Brighton-based producer Asta Hiroki deals in beautiful, cinematic and soulful electronica.

Drawing from jazz, electronica, post-Dilla hip hop, lo-fi and glitch music Asta Hiroki resides in a space between downtempo hip hop, chillout and ambient electronica and glitchy beats – and demonstrating this perfectly is new single ‘Slumber’. Aided and abetted by Dontmesswithjuan the aptly titled ‘Slumber’ is an elegant, lush and woozy slice of dreamy electronica. Hushed, syrupy smooth vocals drift above a sea of atmospherics meandering along a seductive slo-mo groove and dusty beats pattering below. ‘Slumber’ is rich, melodic and dripping with soulful vibes – a mellow and super seductive groover.

Listen to ‘Slumber’ below now:

Arminda K – ‘It’s a Good Thing’

Arminda K is an American experimental pop artist currently residing in London, having moved  there from Brooklyn, after growing up in the rural Midwest.

Arminda K’s sound is a beautiful blend of lush electronica, woozy psych, dreamy folk and pop, whisked together with experimentation never ever far away – something manifested perfectly on latest single ‘It’s a Good Thing’. A hypnotic synth-pop delight as cosmic synths and serene vocals gracefully waltz with a dreamlike surrealism, quivering amid the dreamy and spaced-out atmosphere while a soft seductive groove patters below. A tantalizing track; ethereal, cosmic and hypnotic in equal measure.

Listen to ‘It’s a Good Thing’ below and check out the album, It’s Nearly Night Time, here.

Caoilfhionn Rose – ‘Flourish’

Manchester-based singer/songwriter Caoilfhionn Rose came to our attention with her exquisite debut album Awaken in 2018, and has announced plans to release new album Truly on April 9.

Rose’s sound draws from a deep well of folk, psychedelia and subtle electronica influences, ranging from The Mummers, to Rachel Sermanni, Melody’s Echo Chamber and Broadcast, she produces her own unique brand of beautiful, expansive, fragile and experimental psych-folk.
And with the new album on the horizon, Caoilfhionn Rose is back with lead single ‘Flourish’; a rich and intoxicating haze of dreamy psych-folk. Bathed in a lush and woozy haze, Rose’s soothing and tranquil vocals glide elegantly over a lightly strummed guitar, subtle instrumental arrangements and a trickle of keys, creating a mesmerising, ethereal air. ‘Flourish’ is a gorgeous, deeply immersive and dreamy psych-folk gem, and one that completely transfixes from start to finish. ‘Flourish’ expands on where Awaken left off and hints at another superb record.

Listen to ‘Flourish’ below and keep an eye out for ‘Truly’ coming on April 9.