Houston, Texas anthemic, grungy indie rock/pop band Dres have released their new EP LYSNE. LYSNE (pronounced “LISTEN”) is an acronym for “Last Year’s Summer Never Ended” and was created straight out of high school.
‘LYSNE’ is a summer soaked EP sparkling with richly hued multi – genre facets and good times. Brimming with zealous guitar riffs buoyant rhythms and pop sprinkled goodness these tunes are instantly likeable. ‘Just a Thought’ kicks off this delightful adrenaline rush with catchy melodies, smooth vocals, glorious guitar lines and a vibrant rhythm. These guys flood every track with kinetic energy and youthful fun. There is a hint of the band Magic! wiggling its way between the indie pop as ‘Wake Up’, ‘Road Trip’ and ‘Oh (Florida) You Got Me’ are criminally catchy and easy on the ears. Glorious guitar lines weave lush zest filled tones throughout the EP carrying that sun kissed ethereal vibe joyously in each track. These songs are not for the cynics or grumpy as their intense jubilant atmosphere can be a little overwhelming. Each song explodes with this inferno of happy feeling and elated instrumentation. Things get slightly more rock and roll with the gritty bass in ‘What I Want’. With swagger dripping off the scorching guitar this anthemic sing along ready number would be great at a pool party. But it is final track ‘Cobain’ that brings a shift in the EP. The verses are more moody and grunge drizzled, however the chorus returns to that vibrant mass sing along.
‘LYSNE’ shows some sublime instrumentation from Dres that brings the summer in one short treasure chest EP. However like pandora’s box, once opened you have to suffer the consequences – you won’t be able to prise the tracks from your head and that youthful sun kissed glow will radiate from every pore in your body.
Hausu’s pop troubadour Arthur Valentine makes his first on-record appearance with his debut single ‘Selfish’. Arthur Valentine is the eclectic pop project of Cork based singer/songwriter and producer Luke Aston.His forthcoming debut EP was recorded as a full-band effort, spanning over many sessions, with Hausu musicians chipping in.Originally debuted as a live performance on Mike McGrath Byran’s RedOnRed show on Red FM, ‘Selfish’ is a dreamy sweet track smouldering upon light finger picked guitar and a melty easy on the ears melody. His lush vocals coo and slip effortlessly into his sweet falsetto. Romantic and steeped in a honeyed melody this dreamy ditty flows rippleless-ly into your ears until you are wooed by this simple well crafted track. It’s clever, honest and charming.
Dublin based psychedelic rock band Jooce have released their new double A side release ‘Lazarus/Disarray’. ‘Lazarus’ and ‘Disarray’ take Jooce’s blissful psychedelic rock down two different trippy avenues.
‘Lazarus’ cruises along with vibrant swirling soundscapes while hazy guitars weave a warm toned golden thread through this ethereal track.It’s prismatic layers create an enthralling lustrous listening experience as the track wanders off into a glorious and hypnotic instrumental piece. The raspy vocals coo and dynamically call out the anthemic chorus and punchy verse as a buoyant rhythm bounces through the swirling lush soundscapes.
‘Disarray’ mellows the tone as it ventures down a delicate ballad side to Jooce. Soft guitar strums between emotional and fairy-like light soundscapes. It’s a sweet reverb laced dreamy number that builds as it progresses. The guitars jangle with a zesty biting sting through the chilling atmosphere and sway-like melody. They weave the psychedelic tones through this track sublimely while sprinkling a dash of pop over the melody.
Moving and deeply enthralling Jooce showcase their fine musicianship and exquisite melodies through both these mesmerising tracks.They are instantly addictive.
Dublin based band OverLockers have released their new single ‘Time to Time’.Comprised of Jeremy Burke on guitar and vocals, David O’Grady on Guitar and Vocals, Eoin Madden on bass and Eoghan Barrett on drums the band display their first release of 2019 in true rock n’ roll manner.
Gritty, razor sharp and full of gusto ‘Time to Time’ is a ferocious number from OverLockers. With guitar lines dripping swagger which slide and sizzle off a punchy drum and bass combo this riff driven beast is a force to be reckoned with. The drums pummel through the track with relentless stamina while the nimble bass wanders around the flighty guitars. It’s a moody, “angsty” track with Burke’s animated vocals exclaiming over the boisterous backdrop. For me those wailing, blistering guitar injections are the glorious highlight, they douse the track in red hot fiery panache and provide a blustering rock n’ roll persona.‘Time to Time’ is one blazing inferno from OverLockers.
Our Worth A Listen Track This Week Comes From The Pretty Visitors
Portsmouth indie rock band The Pretty Visitors have released their new single ‘It’s Not Easy’. Originally forming in 2012, the band played many shows in Southampton, Portsmouth and London, supporting artists such as Circa Waves, Jaws, Billy Lunn (The Subways), The Family Rain and more recently, Sisteray. Making a Victorious Festival debut in 2014, the band made a decision to pursue other avenues for the coming years. Reforming in Autumn of 2018, The Pretty Visitors are back, with bigger sounds and ambitions. They kicked off the year in style with a headline gig at Wedgewood Rooms, after selling out the smaller sister venue within a week of announcement.
‘It’s Not Easy’ is a crisp biting display from The Pretty Visitors. Swallowed up in an energetic wall of sound this blistering punchy number is raucous old school indie rock at its most potent. Raw guitars wail and shriek while crashing off snappy, pounding drums. A rooted elastic bass creates a fluctuant foundation and dance-able quality to the track. Hyperactive and filled with mosh ready madness this burly assault storms in ready to get a live audience in a frenzy. With a scorching guitar solo between a heavy rhythmic backdrop and attitude soaked vocals The Pretty Visitors showcase their swaggering raw sound with subtle flickers of finesse glimmering through the thrilling mayhem. It’s a catchy, exhilarating adrenaline shot of indie rock.
Dublin four piece indie band Drivelight have released the music video for their single ‘Take Two’. The video which was filmed by Insomniac Productions is a quirky accompaniment to the funk flavoured number as the four piece take on rolls as mechanics to fix up a BMW. Though we never really see the lads doing any work they do plenty of daydreaming, dancing and “driving”. It’s a fresh visual that shows the bands comical side as they play air drums, guitar with a brush and take a sweet little dog for a ride along. Taking turns in the driver’s seat Drivelight take us on a rocking road trip from winter woods to space and everything in between as they bop to their infectious blistering track showing their unique dancing styles along the way. It’s a fun visual to accompany the bands shredding slick new single.
Funk flavoured sounds, hefty rich rhythms and lush guitar refrains fill the room for Gorilla Troubadour’s ‘Tom Cruise Does All His Own Stunts’ single launch in Whelan’s Dublin. I entered the venue as their second song ‘Hey Hey’ wafted around my ears. Its charming strut quality and swagger drenched bass groove walked me through the bopping crowd. The tasty guitar lines, tight presentation and punchy drums were a delightful welcome. These guys have a fun approach to their live show as banter with the crowd is plentiful. The band played through their set creating a soothing sense of mellowed out hysteria through the crowd. They build their tracks perfectly providing something for every music lover from swoony melodies, intricate guitar lines and lush wails to a sublime hip moving rhythmic section.These guys are tight. They smother their songs in a wispy smoke of darkness – ‘Ophelia’ in particular is one hair raising gem. For such a young band their sound is sophisticated and mature. There are no holes, no lapses, just solid rich tunes ready to mosh, wiggle and sway to. To get a band this tight with a sound this compelling is a special find but then for them to be great live as well- that’s pretty fantastic.
A few well known covers pepper the bands set list – a bass slicked rendition of Royal Blood’s ‘Figure It Out’ goes down particularly well with the crowd while a refreshing cover of Joy Division’s ‘Love Will Tear Us Apart‘ (which sees frontman Dylan Kearns take to the keys) also graces the set list. The band are all impressive performers, Dylan Kearns plays the frontman role well. His smiley persona comes across bubbly yet relaxed as he tackles the crowds song requests for ‘Esmeralda’.Eamon Ganley lead Guitarist has some shredding solo’s and boy does he execute them well, (perhaps playing up to the crowds enthusiasm) he strikes and wiggles with precision and panache while bassist James O’ Connor is immersed in his grooves as he majestically and nimbly swoops and glides through the bass lines. With a slightly deflated “confetti cannon” pop (more like a glorified party popper) the band introduce the most mesmerising artist to sing with them, Cat Doran. Her soulful vocals are hair raising, chilling and utterly enthralling as she ever so coolly blends with Kearns sweet falsetto.There is a mystical,enchanting yet haunting quality to her voice that lures and entices you into every note. Kearns’ vocals are pretty outstanding for ‘We Drove For Miles’ which was my favourite track of the night. This smoky gem features a sultry guitar solo, a spellbinding melody and oodles of passion.
‘Tom Cruise Does All His Own Stunts’ translates magnificently live. Drummer Eric Walsh puts on a gorilla mask and the track whacks into fruition. This track coils and uncoils itself ever so confidently live- it feels like it could be the work of a band with twice the experience.Walsh is quite the proficient drummer. He lays down their meaty foundation and executes it with a fluidity that is first rate, showcasing he can maneuver a pounding assault or a sweltering lighter tap-tap-tap with finesse and gusto. ‘The Apple Truck’ is the final track of the night and Kearns introduces this before he takes a memorable and lasting picture on his disposable camera – “your looking well” he glints at the crowd before they cruise into the sizzling track which once again shows the bands striking musical talent.
Gorilla Troubadour are definitely a band to keep an eye on. They have their heads screwed on. They know what they are doing, what works, what sounds good and then they turn that up a notch and make it theirs. The cool swagger with which they dispatch their meat-cleaver riffs, slick musicianship and catchy choruses is what makes these guys pretty special.
Dublin based art rock duo Manyana have released their debut single ‘1ofmy’. Comprised of Aran Sheehy and David O’Rourke the duo are leading the way for an album they have planned for release this year.
This absorbing number immerses you in a deeply ambient electronic soundscape filled with passionate rich tones and an extremely mesmerising and tangible sound. Every electronic flicker, pulse beat and lush melody slowly seeps into you, making the track a full sensory experience. Immense care has been taken with this track- each fragment is tailored precisely.From the fluctuant slapping beat shuffling through ethereal soundscapes to the strong piano chords, this composition is organic, rich and compelling. The elegant piano is the strength of the track between the breezy atmosphere and chilling soundscape. The piano grows slowly building to a sweet yet sharp melody that twinkles and wanders between a warm vocal harmony and jittery beat. There is great beauty and grandeur in this track. Its simplistic approach draws you into the inner working of this intriguing gem as Manyana dilute certain parts while highlighting and enriching others to create a textured fascinating listen. It’s catchy, melancholic and biting while warm vocals soothe and coo over a drifting sombre soundscape that feels barren yet filled with loneliness and tender instrumentation. ‘1ofmy’ is utterly consuming.
Alternative four-piece, Y!KES have released their debut single ‘Uncanny Valley’. The band is comprised of TJ Weston (Drums), Liam Howard (Guitar, backing vocal), Joby Fitzgerald (Lead vocal, rhythm guitar), Matt Ford (Bass) and this new single is the first of five singles scheduled for this year.
‘Uncanny Valley’ is an intoxicating blast of Y!KES’ catchy demolishing alternative rock. It’s snappy rhythm is consumed with relentless energy as punchy drums batter through a groove riddled bass line while shredding exhilarating guitars majestically soar, wail and screech over this mammoth whack of turmoil. It’s a meaty burly tune glossed with an infectious melody and raspy vocal delivery. Ready for the sticky mosh pit Y!KES announce themselves with one attention demanding anthem. ‘Uncanny Valley’ is fiery, full of gusto and one hell of a tune.
The accompanying video is a grotesquely humorous representation of the songs intense themes of isolation and stigmatisation, as well as a showcase for their extreme energy and theatricality. This is a band who are primed and ready to break down the doors of the UK rock scene this year.
Sylvette have released their new single ‘Memories (falling)’. Sylvette are a 5 piece Art-Rock band based in Manchester who create an imaginative and powerful sound.
‘Memories (falling)’ fleshes out Sylvette’s gripping musicianship with an ethereal mystical air of finesse. Doused in groove infested rhythms this track is one exhilarating rush. A gritty bass wiggles its way around luring jagged guitar shards while soft keys weave through pining violin lines creating a sublime dramatic backdrop. Meticulously crafted this track entices you with its slinky wriggling instrumentation while Charlie Sinclair’s expressive vocals narrate and theatrically express the eerie tale. Its spine chilling with fantastic elements broken up by sweet interludes. The track builds becoming more intense and ominous as the guitars stride with a dark mysterious melody through a classy elegant soundscape of sinister violin and rich rhythmic rumble. Absolutely thrilling this is one riveting number.
Stream ‘Memories’ below
Indie: (n) an obscure form of rock which you only learn about from someone slightly more hip than yourself.
