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Salem's Psychedelic Atmosphere
Salem
Salem by MATT TARKA is an evocative and genre-fluid listening experience, capturing the ease of indie rock while exploring the psychedelic influences of artists like The Velvet Underground. Standing on the shoulders of musical giants, they still put their own spin on the tonal palette. The acoustic guitar feels like a guiding light, defining the sound while also introducing us to a rhythmic component. It lays the foundation for the track and allows the other melodic aspects t
Sinking/Floating
Sinking/Floating MAIJAH is an alternative pop power pairing that works like strawberries and cream, delving into the duality of the human experience. As we go through change there are these moments of extreme highs and lows and sometimes the only difference between these states is the way we feel, as opposed to anything external. The nice thing about the poetic way the tracks are written is that they become deeply personal to MAIJAH while also being universal to many people’s
New Music Spotlight
Not Today Uses Variety as an Instrument
Not Today by URBAN WALRUS is a confident indie rock banger packed with excellent guitar lines, building intertwining melodies and countermelodies, contributing to the track’s abundant energy. Opening off the bat with a crunchy electric guitar, URBAN WALRUS sets the tone, keeping the listener on their toes from the song’s first moments. Sponsored As the track evolves, the drums act as the rhythmic foundation, providing this beautiful alt-rock hiss that the rest of the track us
2 min read
Metal Detector Is Confident and Introspective at the Same Time.
Metal Detector by FLORIDA is a bold rock project with clear seventies and eighties influences exploring the swings and roundabouts of growing up in Florida. That loud, bright, sunbleached confidence feels part of every track. You can almost sense the sun beating down on you in a couple of these songs, a break from our grey British Summer Time. Sponsored The album opens with a bang, introducing you to its unique style with tracks like Lens Makes Ruin and Decap. They are ener
2 min read
But I Do is a Flirty, Fun and Heartfelt take on the Push and Pull in relationships
But I Do by ISSA RAYE puts the push and pull of relationships into a track that feels fun and lighthearted. They use rhythmic, bouncy synths and a killer bassline to define the exciting unknowns of dating in this flirty, fun track, perfect for your summer playlist. Opening with the ambient sound of a bar or club, the track immediately sets the scene, showing us the fun of the chase. Sponsored This chatter is brought to a close with a roaring bass guitar, like the track tak
2 min read
All I Want Distills Dancing into Pure Euphoria
All I Want by THE HEROIC ENTHUSIASTS is an alt-rock ballad with some retro synth-pop edge. The track utilises its eighties dance-pop sensibilities to explore a surprisingly wholesome love story about wanting to dance with someone. There is purity within the lyrics and delivery, especially with the line: ‘All I want is to dance with you.’ Something about the elevation of the vocals and the synth line behind it makes it feel as if the track is awe-struck by this person they h
2 min read
Nothing Ever Goes Away Describes the Shattering Weight of Debt
Nothing Ever Goes Away by THE MUSTER POINT PROJECT is an Americana, folk anthem with an achingly tragic yet beautiful narrative about the crushing weight of debt. Some songs about heavy topics sideline the musical aspect of their project, focusing more on telling a complete story. However, that is not the case here. THE MUSTER POINT PROJECT utilises its musical roots to elevate its story. The Americana elements ground the story in a way that feels more real and relatable b
2 min read
Eight of Spades has a Different Take on Happiness
Eight of Spades by SECONDHAND DREAMCAR is a funky, retro soul ballad about finding joy in life no matter what at any given moment. The title references the Eight of Pentacles, a tarot card symbolising finding joy in mundanity. The band's name also references this indestructible joy. I wonder whether this will be a consistent theme across their catalogue. SECONDHAND DREAMCAR feels like an acceptance of what you have available right now to get what you want, a way to bring dre
2 min read
It's Time is Upbeat and Romantic to its Core
It's Time by FRANCK RAPP is the perfect summer acid jazz anthem, injecting the listener with excitement about the future of love. The 'time' in the title refers to the right moment to find love. The track's foundations are that tentative emotional rise. There is a sense of excited waiting drawn out of the track in both the narrative and the sonic execution. The introduction, for example, is quite long for such an energetic disco track. Sponsored This choice felt symbolic of
2 min read
Thanks, I Hate It is a Completely New Sound for ORIGAMI SUMMER
" Thanks, I Hate It " by ORIGAMI SUMMER is an intense derivation of their alt-rock, dream pop sound. While maintaining an emotional core that stands behind every lyric, the timbre feels far more aggressive and bold than their previous work. This intentional switch has led ORIGAMI SUMMER into a more screamo-inspired sound. Often, music artists start more aggressive and then mellow out as their career grows. I have found it less common to have the opposite. In retrospect, thei
2 min read
Ambient2 Uses an Innovative Way To Age Sound.
Ambient2 by #NAME? explores the world of ambient music with a sonically diverse offering that leans into the artist's melancholic, emotionally resonant roots. This track is #NAME?’s first foray into ambient sound. You feel that sense of discovery flourishing as the track grows. That is not to say that it feels novice or unfinished, only that a sense of excitement builds from the beginning, reflecting the burgeoning vision through the track. Sponsored Something about the wa
2 min read
LIFE Blends Bossa Nova and Boom Bap
LIFE by PROKLAIM mixes several different genres in a way that feels authentic to each of them but also unique in its styling. From bossa nova to neo-soul to Boom Bap, there is a sense of respect for each genre PROKLAIM has utilised to build their sound. That respect translates into a unique sonic landscape that feels both effortless and meticulously crafted. The mixture of Boom Bap and bossa nova was the most shocking to me upon first listen. Not only do these two genres no
2 min read
Half Bad Half Bad is Eighties Inspired but More Relevant Than Ever
Half Bad by SAINT CLARE is an alt-rock, eighties-inspired ballad about the challenges that came from living through the early pandemic as well as, more broadly, how difficult mental health problems can make day-to-day life. The track has a subtle, sinister tone from beginning to end that ebbs and flows in energy through the verses and choruses. The bassline, passionate vocals, and subtle guitar trills reminded me a little of The Cure. Their songs like Lovecats and Lullabye c
2 min read
Heartbreak 2020 Defines the Challenges of Modern Love
Heartbreak 2020 by KAMAKSHI KHANNA is a dream pop EP united through the theme of modern loneliness and the struggle to find the right person for you in the current age. The EP begins on a downward note with a sense of desperation waning into acceptance that there will never be the right love for them. However, as the EP draws to a close, there is an optimistic spin on the final track that changes the vibe of the EP around completely. It is a personal pet peeve of mine when
2 min read
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