Category Archives: Alt- Pop

Worth A Listen

Our Worth A Listen Track This Week Comes From The Bay Rays.

Kent trio The Bay Rays have released their single ‘Satisfaction’ the title track to their forthcoming debut EP ‘Satisfaction’ which will be released in March via the band’s own label East Wing Records. The track is “about wanting to escape your social anxieties. You break down barriers, but then you don’t like the person you’re becoming”. Band members Harry Nicoll (lead singer/ guitarist), Anthus Davis (bassist) and Maxwell Oakley (drummer) give us a high powered animated ball of elastic intensity that keeps belting out fiery energy right to the end. Opening with the thrilling shrill of guitar sirens its a roaring triumph that demands to be blasted from your speakers. With swagger filled vocals and strutting elastic bass this track is a confidence building stride and flaunty prance to success. Punchy brawny drums pound through your skull with mighty dynamic intensity. With an infectious melody teamed with energetic instrumentation, The Bay Rays give us that room shaking body grooving track that is so satisfying and catchy you will be hooked craving more and more. Oh its so good you really need to have a listen.
Stream ‘Satisfaction’ below

BAD CHILD ‘Desert Island Lover’

Toronto singer/songwriter BAD CHILD has released his new single ‘Desert Island Lover’. This infectiously smooth track glides with effortlessly cool charm and lazy sunny day vibes. Coated in indifferent moody tones this track is almost beyond feeling, it conveys the mood of “becoming comfortable in your situation and not realising how bad it is”. With a numbing flow that places you into a paralysing trance dulling your mind with its soft heavy percussion which plods and thumps, immersed in its task. The beat and percussion become the main focus point to the mind with its stumbling magnetism while distorted keys splash out sweet melodies giving a blissful hazy daydream vibe. The sharp guitar adds edge and bite to the track. Sulky glum vocals add a monotonous punch to the track while also possessing a charismatic charm for the chorus. This track is an  insanely catchy pop composition and an ambling, entrancing listen blurred with hazy sullen vibes and coated in beachy island tones.
Stream ‘Desert Island Lover’ below

https://soundcloud.com/badchildsound/desert-island-lover-3

Henry Chadwick ‘Guest at Home’ EP

Currently based in California, indie artist Henry Chadwick has been making waves with his new EP, ‘Guest at Home’. A singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer, his self-produced EP showcases Chadwick’s skills, as he wrote, engineered and played most of the instruments on it. Chadwick’s music has charted on both the Hype Machine and Indie Shuffle Charts with #1 Spots and his single ‘Alright’ has just reached 100,000 streams on Spotify. Chadwick draws influences as much from music of the past (The Beatles, The kinks, T-Rex, Nirvana, David Bowie etc.,) as from  current artists who keep pushing forward stylistically and sonically. Henry makes catchy, thoughtful and usually energetic music with a unique perspective, edge and charm. Henry Chadwick was raised in a studio environment, his father being an engineer who worked out of Cherokee studios in Hollywood through the 1980’s and continued to record in his home studio in the Santa Cruz Mountains.
‘Guest at Home’ EP brings a sound that will transport you to back to the swinging 60s with flashes of current indie edge to pull you into a spiralling concoction of energetic charming delight. Title track ‘Guest At Home’ kicks things off with a ripe zealous guitar riff sugar coated in an infectious melody that swoons and floats with ecstasy. Peppy bouncy beat, clap along feature and smooth vocals make this track an instant hit. The witty lyrics and sweet shrill on guitar teamed with a slice of rock and roll Jerry Lee Lewis -esque piano this track will have you rocking around the clock. ‘Overtime’ slows the pace with strumming guitar and reverb psychedelic vocals. Its a prism of trippy sparkling hypnotic euphoria. Soft beats and spaced out vibes give the track a floating wispy daydream feel. ‘Alright’ is a hazy Californian driving track. Bursting with cool sun kissed vibes exuding effortless sleek swagger with a creamy fluid flow. Slick guitar adds a zest and a sensual smack of charm to the track. Its a groovy dexterous foxy strut of laid back smooth rock. ‘Something I Don’t Know’ showcases that superb rock with ear worm melody and infectious hair raising heart quickening guitar feature teamed with punchy drums that makes you dance around the room in a joyous frenzy. Its an uplifting radiant tune that appeals to every fibre of your being. Chadwick displays the high range in his vocals for the catchy lovable chorus. ‘The Two Of Us’ closes the EP with edgy guitar and eerie vocals. Perfect harmonies add a lush texture while the strong beat drives the track forward. Simple sway-like feel with darker undertones keeps the track fresh and makes it stand out from the others. With psychedelic twists towards the end Chadwick knows how to keep your attention throughout making you want to hear more.
Stream ‘Guest at Home’ EP below

The Curious Incident ‘Behaviour Saviour’

The Curious Incident are a pop/rock band with a Caribbean Twist. Based in London they have released their new single ‘Behaviour Saviour’. Kairo (Vocals, Guitar), from South Africa and Diaz (Drums, Sampling), from Indonesia found their way to England via The Netherlands and promise to make music that will “make land-lovers surf.” The band will be releasing a new single every month for the next 3 months as part of their aptly named plan – “3 Songs, 3 Months”.
‘Behaviour Saviour’ is the first instalment, an appetisingly charming slice of Caribbean-tinged indie-pop. Like being caressed by a warm, tropical breeze, The Curious Incident present us with a chirpy bouncy track coated in smooth energetic vibrancy and sun soaked wholesomeness. Soft smooth vocals glide with silky fluid textures. The deep backing vocals contrast adding a variety of textures and qualities to the track. Rich rebounding percussion and sweet tones on guitar keep the track quirky and refreshing like a cool drink on a hot day. Its a vivid floppy delight to indulge in.
You can download ‘Behaviour Saviour’ and donate whatever you think it is worth via the DONATE button here http://www.thecuriousincident.com/. Any donations will go to helping release the next few singles.
Stream ‘Behaviour Saviour’ below

RÉN ‘Give It All Up’

RÉN (pronounced rain) is an Indie Pop artist from Brooklyn, New York. RÉN is making waves with her thought provoking tracks which are fresh in perspective. She showed us her wisdom through groovy indie in her debut single ‘Time’, followed by her single ‘Into the Unknown’ which is about escape and a much-needed reminder to let go of those aspects of life you will never have control over. These tracks embodied the core concept of RÉN – live fully, ‘let go’ of everything holding you back, and go ‘Into the Unknown’. When performing live lead singer Renée Orshan is joined by her Von Trap like family with brother Reuben Orshan on lead Guitar and sister Eden Orshan on background vocals.
RÉN has released her new single ‘Give It All Up’ which is bursting with an exploding release of optimism and acceptance. Saturated in infectious dance beats and shimmering synths this track exudes sunny radiant vibes from its very essence. With tropical juicy elements its a fruity cocktail of realisation that gently coaxes you into recognising your feelings and emotions. The sun soaked atmosphere fills you with elation and exhilaration. Its a rush of positivity with Renée’s vocals softly cooing and lulling you with soothing warm tones. The track is surrounded with cool airy fresh vibes that swish and swirl like a gentle breeze blowing away all the tension leaving you relaxed and ready to dance, while the synths rain down on you sprinkling joy and uplifting tones. Richly layered with zest and luscious textures dripping from every note its a shimmery delight to relish and savour. This pulsing pop track will have you up and dancing around the room looking forward to summer in no time. RÉN is one to watch.
Stream ‘Give It All Up’ below

https://soundcloud.com/renmusicpage/give-it-all-up

Adam & Elvis ‘Hanging Tree’

Adam & Elvis have released their new single ‘Hanging Tree’. Their thought-provoking, pull-no-punches style which is set to a musical backdrop of exhilarating wall-of-sound pop and primitive punk energy, unleashed by Patrick on guitar/vocals and Tom on bass/vocals respectively, with the aid of Juliet Styles (synths/saxophone), Steve Wraight (vocals/percussion) and Dan Robershaw (guitar). The Berkshire band have been championed by regional radio and performed their gripping live shows on the same bill as Fat White Family, The Zombies and The Correspondents, as well as numerous festivals across the south of England.
‘Hanging Tree’ is a sorry tale of a young intellectual who, despite his rationalism, loses his mind over unrequited love. Its peppy gritty alternative pop drenched in dark tragically comical tones. Deep dramatic vocals change from moody baritone to full-throttle tenor. The chorus breaks into a sweet bobbing melodious indie disco that bops and hops with elasticity and springiness coated in syrupy vocals. Jagged guitars gash as the rhythm blasts and thunders through the track with raw choppy wildness. Adam & Elvis perfectly make the dark gruelling gut-wrenching theme peppy and wacky while still expressing the pain dramatically with razor sharp saw-toothed instrumentation and deep vocals.
You can catch Adam & Elvis live at:
Sat 6 January 2017: Sebright Arms, London E2
Fri 24 February: The George Tavern, London E1 – Freak Power Records Residency
Fri 24 March: The George Tavern, London E1 – Freak Power Records Residency
Fri 26 May: The George Tavern, London E1 – Freak Power Records Residency
Fri 23 June: The George Tavern, London E1 – Freak Power Records Residency

Watch the video for ‘Hanging Tree’ which was shot by Balla Kingston, Craig Rogers and Antonio Pineda below. It captures the band in ebullient mood at UK Live Sound studios in Reading, where ‘Hanging Tree’ was produced.

Sad Palace ‘Breeze/ Rainbow Melt’

 

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Sad Palace are a really smooth effortlessly cool indie band I stumbled upon, don’t you just love when that happens. Sad Palace present us with coastal fresh indie pop bursting with rich juicy melodies and slick musicianship while spacing us out with hints of psychedelia.
‘Rainbow Melt’ gives us a sensual sway-like groove and tender velvety vocals wrapped up in edgy indie pop. The razor sharp sting on guitar adds spice and zest to the track while the ripply rhythm keeps the track bouncing along in an almost 70s psychedelic groove. With luring tempting bass and vocals that ooze panache and swagger this track will coax and sweet talk you into pressing repeat. Rich luscious textures and layers gives the track depth and showcases this band’s solid musicianship. While the brazen flashy guitar licks whip and flatter the flaunting track pulling you further into the groove.
‘Breeze’ lulls you into its melodic funky strut almost instantly. With velvety vocals to start cooing and soothing right into the hook driven feet shuffling riff. With psychedelic entrancing instrumentals, this track swirls you into a dreamy blissful euphoric stupor before slapping you back into the rapid bouncy slice of indie pop. The vocals smoothly glide from creamy dreamy haze to bright and bubbly effortlessly, as the guitar illuminates the track with zealous licks and peppy bounce. This track is infectiously catchy and like honey to the ears. Sad Palace know how to write and craft earworm melodies, mix and blend them with fantastic instrumentation. Watch out for these guys.
Stream ‘Rainbow Melt’ and ‘Breeze’ below

 

Everywhere ‘Fiction Act’ EP

London Alt Rock band Everywhere have announced the release of their second EP ‘Fiction Act’ available on iTunes December 9. This follows the success of acclaimed track ‘Some Other Dude’. The Band recently finished their first proper UK tour with stops in Brighton, Liverpool and Glasgow amongst others. Since their Hypemachine charting debut ‘Eddie’, Everywhere’s music has been streamed millions of times on YouTube, Soundcloud and Spotify. They made their first International appearance at the 2013 NME Awards in the UK, playing alongside Django Django and Palma Violets, and later went on to support the Kaiser Chiefs and headline Notting Hill Arts Club in London. The lead single on the EP ‘Some Other Dude’ now has over 1 million plays on Spotify and gained them a feature on BBC Introducing London. This advance success certainly helped pave the way for ‘Fiction Act’. During the recording process of the EP the boys have divided their time between Stockholm, Los Angeles and London to collaborate with multiple producers, including American hit maker Mark Needham (The 1975, The Killers).
‘Shades At Night’ kicks off the ‘Fiction Act’ EP giving us a massive anthem to wrap our ears around. Rich with a luxurious ear-worm melody and a ravishing textured rhythm that gives the track depth leaving you craving more. Shimmering synths keep the track bright and glowing with dazzling scintillation that evokes thoughts of an arena worthy flashing lights display. Its a track that is sure to have a live audience on their feet jumping , dancing and bellowing out the sing-along lyrics. An explosive attention grabbing start to the EP. ‘Heroine’ follows gushing with high spirited energy and lush soaring vocals. Snappy beat gives the track steady bounce and lift while the weaving melodies on synths add a spacey aerial feel. This track is well formed and crafted giving us lavish textures to devour. ‘Some Other Dude’ follows next, a track which we previously featured on Indie Buddie. Its a “go for it” piece of advise full of “carpe diem” vibes and fist pumping high energy. With escalating dynamic vocals, elastic groovy bass and bopping punchy drums this track oozes swagger infused dance vibes. You wont be able to sit still with another irresistibly catchy chorus, its a crowd pleaser. ‘ Let It Go’ brings the EP to a tender close. Synths glitter and glisten with gentle elegance. The track twinkles and sparkles delicately becoming more intense and rich for the chorus. Soaring backing vocals add a dreamy hazy vibe to the track. Its a beautiful graceful end to the EP.
‘Fiction Act’ is a treasure trove of rich melodies that shows Everywhere are blossoming into something quite potent. They are a band that should most definitely be sought after.
Stream ‘Fiction Act’ below

 

The Assist ‘Tell Her How You Feel’

The Assist are an indie-dance four piece from Walsall, comprised of members Mikey Stanton (vocals), Ryan Stanton (guitar), Jak Baker (bass) and Ben Faulkner (drums). They have recently graced both LEEDS & Y NOT Festival alongside support slots with both Ratboy, Blossoms and Jaws. The Assist completed a full UK headline tour to coincide with the release of their debut EP ‘TROUBLE’. They were strongly supported by BBC’s introducing show and not long after labelled as “Birmingham’s next big thing” by X radio. They have now released their new single ‘Tell Her How You Feel’.
‘Tell Her How You Feel’ is an animated energetic track bursting with rubbery bounce that rebounds and slaps you in the face with smooth pop melody coated in intense post-Britpop and a dash of R&B. This track flows with a spring in its step with elastic punchy drums and funky bass. Driving strides on guitar adds a zesty flavour and edge to the track. Stanton’s vocals rap the verse with attitude while the wistful soaked catchy chorus displays his emotional and dynamic vocals. The Assist display a well developed track that showcases their confidence as a band with swagger-filled instrumentation that shows their talent and competence while also displaying strong songwriting skills. The Assist are ones to watch.
Stream ‘Tell Her How You Feel’ below

Mowbeck ‘Vaseline’

Nottingham pop-rock four-piece Mowbeck have released their new single ‘Vaseline’ which is taken from the band’s recently released debut EP ‘Talkabout’.The debut EP was written and recorded in a dingy rehearsal studio deep in an industrial estate, where the band began to stray from their early pop roots to embrace a darker, grittier core. Whilst ensuring that songwriting was always kept at the forefront and playing any gigs possible, the band’s strong DIY ethic caught the attention of Dean Jackson (BBC Introducing East Midlands) and earned them regular airplay on BBC local radios and even a slot on the BBC Introducing Stage at this years’ Reading & Leeds Festival.
‘Vaseline’ is an atmospheric ballad that croons and coos soft tender moody emotions. With a gradual build this track eases us into Mowbeck’s “gritpop”. With an effortless cool sway and spine tingling twinkle of keys coated in dark shadowy undertones this track oozes a ghostly delicate vibe that has a lulling soothing effect. Soft falsetto vocals start the track laced with raw emotion and haunting echos that builds to a raspy gritty intensity. The eerie glint and sparkling in the background like a light happening upon a diamond adds a dreamy haze to the track while the haunting almost nostalgic guitar gives us that razor sharp edge, like a cold breeze waking you from the dream. The track surrounds the vocals making them and the lyric the vortex while the haunting instrumentation twirls and weaves around complimenting and enhancing them. Mowbeck show fantastic musicianship with ‘Vaseline’ as they fully develop this track piece by piece carefully and delicately emphasising the right aspects at the right time portraying an intense raw track with smooth qualities embroidered with gritty elements.
Watch the video for ‘Vaseline’ below