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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
White Bird Review
White Bird by CLAUDIA BALLA is a beautiful ballad that uses metaphor to describe the allure of love in a universal yet articulate way. The track’s energy is created by a thoughtful and sensitive mix, allowing space for each element of the track to breathe while still feeling full and climactic at the right moments. Sponsored BALLA’s vocal performance is a highlight. She injects each phrase with a powerful yet vulnerable tone that emphasises the power of the lyrics as well a
2 min read
Pet Sematary Review
EVOL WALKS cover of Pet Sematary , originally by The Ramones, injects the eighties classic with a mix of enigmatic and sinister energy through the slow and creeping delivery. The guitar performance feels heavy and bold through its sharpness in the mix and the depth of its tones. It contrasts the vocals nicely, providing a weight in the register that mirrors their higher tone. I think that juxtaposition goes a long way to anchoring the track tonally. Through the uncomfortabl
2 min read
Flask Review
Flask is a musical journey that never stops evolving from beginning to end. Composed by our friend, Ari Joshua , creator of the excellent Help On The Way cover we took a look at here, the track mixes the pedigree of his compositional skills with the nuanced performance and delivery of other Space Owl members: Bob Lovelace , John Ewing , and David Appelbaum. Sponsored Together, their music is technically fantastic, charismatic, and smooth. It achieves this sound without pull
2 min read
Shoulder to Shoulder Review
Shoulder to Shoulder is the latest release by Wasson!? It is a meaningful track that balances thematic depth with an energetic punk rock attitude that does not undermine the intensity of the lyricism. Hailing from Bude in Cornwall, the band injects this track with the energy of home. Sponsored The mix of distortion and clarity in the layers of lead guitars reminded me of getting tumbled about by the waves that make Bude so memorable to so many. The track utilises a pacey rh
2 min read
Redeemer Review
Redeemer is a Christian rock song about Thurane’s relationship with God. More broadly, it is a track about the beauty of belief and how love can fortify people to feel confident in themselves. The track has a unique instrumental arrangement with a deep distorted guitar providing the foundation of the rhythm and melody. Sponsored It puts the drums in an unusual place within the mix. They feel like a rhythmic addition instead of its basis. They build a counter rhythm that add
2 min read
Christmas From Afar Review
Sometimes, during the Christmas season, it’s hard to understand the intricacies of the holidays through the chaos of the family dynamics, the cooking, and the presents. However, with the festive period in the rearview mirror, we can see it more clearly. Christmas feels like it intensifies all emotions, positive and negative. Sponsored We build it up with so many expectations that sometimes it’s difficult for the holiday season to live up to them. Christmas From Afar , by Haze
2 min read
Winds of Change Review
Winds of Change is a classical album by Allen Kai-Lang Yu . It utilises layers of piano melodies that fuse, meld and interact as the album goes. The first track, Whispers of The Wind, begins with a slow start that feels like wind swaying in the trees. Its bright timbre and evolving cadence feel like the wind slowly picking up pace. Sponsored As it does, the track increases in intensity, adding a depth through the baseline that contrasts the original melody. The sound has roo
2 min read
Reflection Review
Reflection by Millhope is a post-rock instrumental track that captures nostalgic energy through its tight production and use of a diverse range of synthesisers. Sponsored The track begins with an enigmatic and soulful vibe that slowly builds energy as the piece goes on. The lead melody feels light and conversational at this point. The higher-pitch synth introduces a theme, and then the lower-pitch synth evolves it. This technique gives each of the components a sense of person
2 min read
Breath Review
Breath by Bodeba is a disco track with a distinct and charismatic vibe that allows for excellent evolution and a fluid instrumental that never strays from its core identity. Sponsored Breath establishes a rhythm from the very start with the breath samples. Not only does this anchor the song to the themes it’s communicating, but it also provides anticipation for the track to come. The rhythmic and sharp breaths felt contagious, creating a sense of excitement and energy off t
2 min read
Anthem for the Forgotten Review
Anthem for the Forgotten by Paul Marotto is a powerful track that details the immense challenges of addiction and mental illness, as well as the acute pain of loneliness. Although it is a cliche to talk about the isolating effect of modern life, I think it is pertinent to mention it anyway because it is not changing. This song does a great job of exposing that introspective melancholy felt, looking back on lonely years. Sponsored The track has this piano part that establis
2 min read
Precious Memories Review
Precious Memories by Avaraj is a beautiful yet tragic collection of songs detailing her experience of helping her grandmother after she was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. The Ep utilises an array of styles to tell stories within the narrative, giving context to the themes with tracks from alternative perspectives. Sponsored Opening with Precious Memories Intro, the EP begins with a train of thought exploring the emotions associated with her “Mawmaw.” Instead of having
2 min read
Lulled by the Waves Review
Lulled by the Waves by No Terror In the Bang is a unique post-metal track that uses ebbs and flows in its energy to convey narrative. Something about the swaying, dark charisma of the vocals reminded me a little of Thom Yorke from Radiohead, especially on tracks like Exit Music (For A Fim). Sponsored Beginning with a bright and shiny timbre, the vocals are immediately at odds with the instrumental. While the instrumental feels inquisitive and light-hearted, the vocals have a
2 min read
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