Cloakroom Q have released their new single ‘Nowhere To Spit’ off their upcoming album ‘Yes Again’. Liberated by an LCD Soundsystem gig in 2016, Cloakroom Q became upstarts with synths, loops and dynamic tension. They mess with the idea of stage performance, with primary colours, smudges of make-up and even mock fights on stage. From the Mournes area of South Down and now based in Belfast, they have experimented with spoken word and confessional themes.
‘Nowhere To Spit’ is a theatrical display from Cloakroom Q. as they use their unique storytelling and quirky melodic hooks to create a refreshing alternative art rock track. With a lush variety of instruments from horns and bells to organs; the band flesh out their sound superbly. The track kicks into motion with a delicate guitar jingle while ominous vocals haunt in the background. ‘Nowhere To Spit’ displays a sublime contrast between soft sweet twinkling moments and mysterious sinister progressions with elements of theatrical bursts throughout. Glittering keys provides a light innocence to the track while strident guitars and punchy drums create glimmers of rock which unfolds with elements of stage performance theatrics. ‘Nowhere To Spit’ is quite an intriguing blend of music which works well within the band’s unique and powerful soundscape.
Following the success of debut release ‘Did You Ever Really Listen to Yourself?’ in April, manic Waterford rockers 7Levels return with the explosive ‘Hard Drive’. With ‘Did You Ever Really Listen to Yourself?’ receiving support from RTÉ 2fm’s Dan Hegarty, 7Levels have made a very quick impression on the Irish music scene. The band consists of Ger Reid, Mike Fox, Caela Murphy, Cian Dalton, Adam Cullen Stafford and Lou Bennett.
With a bloodthirsty rhythmic backdrop, ‘Hard Drive’ is quite the blazing second single from 7Levels. Guitars rampage through the backdrop with blazing fury and majestic scorches while the rooted demon-summoning bass lines curdle through the tracks underbelly. The jagged stomps, raging drums and spitting punk vocals drive home the songs theme of the dangerous world of online personas while adding a murky dark undertone to the track’s scorching rock coating and mosh pit ready mania. With an all out anarchy drenched crescendo ‘Hard Drive’ displays a wild and raw side to 7Levels powerful and compelling musicianship.
PhilMi5fit has released his latest single ‘End of the World Song’. PhilMi5fit has been creating music for over 15 years, always searching for something new to push his guitar playing to the next level. Citing Gary Moore, Carlos Santana and Steve Vai as his influences, his music fuses Rock, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal and virtuous guitar. Written and produced by himself, PhilMi5fit took the challenge with ‘End of the World Song’ allowing the experience to push himself as an artist. The video is a dreamy nostalgic raw vision of the sensation that the sound is supposed to look like, a visual representation of the tornado of emotions that inspired the creative process for this song.
‘End of the World Song’ is a blistering acute instrumental track bursting with kinetic energy and nimble guitar work. The song ventures from shredding raw riffs to swift, slick licks and gritty solos as PhilMi5fit pivots the track around his guitar prowess. With pummeling drums providing the ground shaking backdrop to the robust instrumentation, ‘End of the World Song’ is an intriguing listen and fantastic display of musicianship from PhilMi5fit.
Stage’ is the latest single to come from Japanese solo project Farnature. Written about the intersection of nature and city life, ‘Stage’ gives the spotlight to the sounds of the natural world, and contrasts this with the bustle of daytime in the city. ‘Farnature’ is a solo project from Japan who co-writes with a UK based writer and collaborates with guest vocalists from around the world. Farnature’s songs are characterised by their 6/8 time signatures and emphasis on the 3rd and 6th beats of the bar.
‘Stage’ is a vibrant and rich hybrid of electronic and world music that creates quite the intense and full sound.The song is meticulously crafted to create layers of rich and unique soundscapes as Farnature experiments with quirky instrumentation to create a sound wholly their own. With flamenco rhythms bustling behind light guitar refrains and swirling synths the track whirls with progressing intensity allowing the rhythms imitate the hectic pace of the city while a sweet melody builds as the track reaches its epic crescendo. With the rooted bass grooves weaving between the songs ethereal electronics and powerful vocals ‘Stage’ is quite the unique and intriguing track.
Benji and the Saltwater Sound System have released their new single ‘Lights and Smoke’. ‘Lights and Smoke’ is the third single to be released from the upcoming Benji and the Saltwater Sound System EP, ‘Ripples of Thunder’. Benji and the Saltwater Sound System draw from Ben Fowler’s recent immersion into islander flavours and fuse these with the jazz, reggae and African roots of its members past musical projects.Benji and the Saltwater Sound System have played acclaimed festivals including Woodford, the National Folk Festival, Mitchell Creek Rock N’ Blues.
Exuding a soft layering of folk, pop and indie ‘Lights and Smoke’ is a lush unfolding of Benji and the Saltwater Sound System’s wonderful musicianship. With guitar twinkling over a rumbling beat the track begins light and radiant before the chorus introduces warm melodies on cello provided by Sivan Agam of the April Maze. ‘Lights and Smoke’ lyrically draws from frontman Ben Fowler’s experience of living in the Solomon Islands.The song oozes passion within its roots as the foot tapping rhythmic pulse surges warmth and cosy vibes while the light guitar and keys lift the track to ethereal heights. ‘Lights and Smoke’ is quite the time stopping number as the listener is lulled by Ben Fowler’s dreamy emotive vocals which gently coo over the songs organically flourishing soundscape. With a sweet melody melting over this softly bubbling backdrop Benji and the Saltwater Sound System present a lush and intricately rippling sound full of rich textures and intriguing musicianship.
The Star Prairie Project has released a 10 song album titled ‘Panacea’. The album follows on from the success of their single ‘Sophia’ which has amassed more than 110,000 streams on Spotify and reached #48 on the DRT Top 50 Adult Contemporary chart. The Star Prairie Project gets its name from the village of Star Prairie outside of Minneapolis and the AlanParsons Project. The Star Prairie Project is made up of Nolen R. Chew Jr. and Rick J. Vogelpohl. Their upcoming album ‘Panacea’ sees them teaming up with more vocalists and musicians as they create a truly collaborative and highly polished album.
‘Panacea’ is a wholesome and accomplished album that ventures from alternative rock to country and folk with some Americana peppering throughout. The album steadily blends heartwarming musicianship with slick instrumentation with ease as The Star Prairie Project present their powerful and refined sound through the rock-filled and mighty opener ‘Do What You Do’. The sultry rock n’ roll of ‘Frantic Mind’ and witty twang of ‘My Dear Lady’ display the bands ability to rein the might of their wild alternative rock and embellish their deft sound with more emotive and cheeky elements. This is shown particularly well in soft romantic ballads such as ‘So Beautiful’.
However it is within the intricacies of the guitar and piano work that this band truly excel. The guitars inject majestic qualities, raw power and sharp vigor into the tracks while the piano provides more haunting tones in tracks such as ‘Nowhere Bound’ with its mysterious soundscape and jazz elements.
‘Panacea’ boasts a sound brimming with catchy melodies and clean production with a healthy dose of rock spread throughout. There are warm Americana elements fused throughout creating a smooth fluid album filled with emotive vocals and passionate musicianship. Each song is structured and well crafted with steady punchy drum progressions and refined guitar lines that add lamenting elements to nostalgic tracks like ‘Bygone Days’ with its sweet dreamy classic rock coating and shredding solo while ‘My Heart Strings’ takes the bands more piano pop persona and flourishes into a disco hued bop.
‘Panacea’ is a satisfying album laced in folk/ country influences and sublime rock elements. The Star Prairie Project have built a strong repertoire of music filled with charisma, cheeky charm and refined intricate musicianship. It’s a solid new album.
Leeds indie four piece Ten Hands High have released their new single ‘6 Weeks’.After releasing their debut single in January 2019,Ten Hands High have played several packed out shows in their hometown of Leeds. The band were in creative overdrive, releasing 5 singles in 5 months, selling out their debut London headline at the Hope and Anchor in Islington along the way. Having supported Split Milk Society, The Clause and Luna Bay, Ten Hands High are quickly becoming a live act to be reckoned with.
Saturated in light guitar lines and summer vibes, ‘6 Weeks’ presents Ten Hands High’s tight indie in all its glowing infectiousness. A buoyant beat bubbles in the backdrop providing sweet punchy rumbles while the intricate bass weaves and wiggles creating a spongy foundation.The band use warm guitar refrains to provide subtle bursts of scintillation as the song progresses to the chorus.With a catchy melody and laid back vocals ‘6 Weeks’ is the perfect sing along indie tune.
Ten Hands High are cultivating their sound perfectly. Each track they release shows strong musical growth and impressive musicianship. I can not wait to hear more from this band.
Our Worth A Listen This Week Comes From Bitch Falcon
Dublin grunge-rock trio, Bitch Falcon have released their new single ‘Gaslight’ on Small Pond Records.The track premiered on BBC Radio 1 last Sunday and is the band’s debut release of 2020 and their first since signing to Brighton’s Small Pond Records. Formed by front-woman Lizzie Fitzpatrick with her friends in a small kitchen in 2014, the lineup has galvanised around the rhythm section of Barry O’Sullivan on Bass and Nigel Kenny on Drums. To date they have performed several headline and support tours around the UK along with frequent visits to the Benelux countries and North America. From the early days of their first single, Wolfstooth to their most recent release Damp Breath, an evolution in sound can be heard as the group perfect and refine their raw, fuzz-laced offerings over six singles and one EP.
‘Gaslight’ is Bitch Falcon’s most exciting release to date. The band unleash an alternative rock maelstrom filled with raw guitars, powerful vocals and heavy barbed bass lines. The hefty tight rhythmic foundation anchors the listener through the tracks crazed agitated atmospherics as Lizzie Fitzpatrick’s bewitching vocals haunt over brooding sound rumbles and pummeling drum progressions.
Bitch Falcon have a deft ability to create wonderful calm moments of respite in between their chaotic sound which is a difficult task to achieve and yet they do this with such ease that the listener can not help but be in awe of their musical prowess. They are one of Ireland’s most exciting alternative rock bands at the moment. The refined layering and dark chilling atmospheres created within their tracks is utterly thrilling and a joy to listen to.
With gritty riffs and a dark all consuming soundscape, ‘Gaslight’ is an epic return from Bitch Falcon.
About the trackLizzie Fitzpatrick commented “I wanted to describe the feeling of what you see is not necessarily what you get. Gaslight is a song that came together quite fast. Barry started playing his riff and I played along messing rhythmically, just making noise. It sounded so weird and intense so quickly. I remember us all looking at each other and saying this is the one. I think this song was a change in our writing together. We knew we wanted a heavy sound with melodic intricacies.I recorded the vocal layering at home, building up chords with my voice. When we recorded it in the studio, I wasn’t able to sustain my voice for the whole section, Rían (Trench), and I decided to record it in a wave, one-note resting while the other picks up, so it sounds like a living, breathing thing.
I wanted to describe the feeling of what you see is not necessarily what you get. The holy grail of public display, and worth to others. Expressing yourself puts you in a vulnerable position, and I think a lot of people embellish the truth. In that way, an unachievable status is shoved down our throats, and we play into the game every day.”
Dublin indie-rock/pop artist Somebody’s Child has released his new single ‘We Could Start A War’, taken from forthcoming debut EP ‘20-something’ out August 7th. ‘We Could Start a War’ is the second single from the Irish newcomers debut EP, it follows the success of first single ‘Hold Me Like You Wanna’, which has been featured on Spotify’s New Music Friday, plus editorial playlists The Indie List, alt-pop and more, steamrolling past 50,000 streams in just 2 weeks. The single has also been supported by BBC Radio 1 (Jack Saunder’s Next Wave Artist), Radio X, RTE Radio 1 (Recommends), RTE 2FM, Today FM and has been added to the A-list on Amazing Radio, amongst other stations.
‘We Could Start A War’ is a passionate and infectious slice of indie pop flavoured with R&B elements against an effervescent 80’s pop backdrop. The track packs in oodles of energy and 80’s rock gusto as a shrilling guitar soars over the swirling fizzing soundscapes.
The track begins brooding and mournful with soft guitar mirroring the melody’s lament before the suave production kicks in giving the track glitzy swagger and a polished sheen. The danceable foot tapping beat and chilled tempo of the track provides an ethereal quality while the rasped vocals venture into a soulful tone as the emotion and intensity of the song builds.
There is a laid back quality about ‘We Could Start A War’ as the 80’s synths flood with nostalgia while the refined blend of catchy sounds and powerful lyrics takes the song to its epic moments. ‘We Could Start A War’ showcases Somebody’s Child is an artist creating dynamic music with real heart and passion at its core.
Mechner has released his new single ‘Wasted’ which is part three of his upcoming mini-LP ‘Club Idem’. Mechner is the latest foray for Cork based artist Jack Ahern, Mechner has supported the likes of Dermot Kennedy, Delerentos and The Coronas amongst many others.
‘Wasted’ is quite the bewitching tune. Ahern pursues a more mysterious and conflicted form of songwriting with ‘Wasted’ as he drowns his sorrows in cinematic eerie soundscapes while the lyrics express self doubt “It’s easy to see that you’re wasted on me”.
Ahern’s vocals venture between soft whispers and melodic coos before becoming more intense as the song builds. The track swirls almost out of control delving into a dark abyss of coiling, confused emotions expressed through crashing cymbals and pounding drums. The airy rhythmic taps and swirling soundscapes between this emotive frenzy expresses an uncontrollable rush of panic and pain. ‘Wasted’ is a mesmerising piece of work, I can’t wait to hear more from Ahern.
Watch the video for ‘Wasted’ below
Author : Danu
Indie: (n) an obscure form of rock which you only learn about from someone slightly more hip than yourself.
