Author: James Fenney

Top Tracks: Bleach Lab – Drown

/ James Fenney

“You look so pretty when you cry, Makes them wanna break your heart to watch you die inside” – talk about opening lines that hit like a freight train. But as anyone who has had their heartstrings plucked by the band’s magnificent debut album can attest, London dream pop outfit Bleach Lab have an uncanny knack for that sort of thing. Taking the dark empty feeling gnawing at your insides, finding the right words to describe that sensation which walk the line between beautiful and devastating, and ultimately delivering them adorned in effervescent melodies bright enough to banish the gloom. The band’s superb new single ‘Drown’ sees them detail the daunting prospect of trying to break the cycle of a toxic relationship. Clinging on to the person that keeps on hurting you, convincing yourself that the heartache is worth the highs. Scared to take the plunge into a world without them, and deciding that the pain is better than feeling nothing at all. From its driving rhythm section and dreamy haze, to Jenna Kyle’s stunningly bittersweet vocals, ‘Drown’ is yet another triumph from one of the most emotive and assured new bands around.

Live Review: Luvcat, Deaf Institute Manchester, 11th Nov 2024

/ James Fenney

There’s a deeply tempting magic attached to the idea of fresh starts. When you move to a new place, strike up a conversation with a stranger, and it dawns on you that their entire perception of you hinges on what you say and do next. Everyone you meets knows a different version of you, and every first meeting is a blank state to create the ideal version of who you want to be. Belwood favourite Sophie Morgan took that idea and ran with it when crafting her new alter ego Luvcat. Her new project pairs the romantic allure of a smoky jazz club with the dark gothic storytelling of Nick Cave, Tom Waits and Leonard Cohen – with a hearty dash of playfulness and theatricality thrown in for good measure. Luvcat’s beguiling mystique has clearly captured people’s imaginations, as the project’s popularity and influence has been racing like wildfire in just the past year. Fresh off the continent, having just supported The Last Dinner Party across Europe, I caught Luvcat on the first stop of her debut UK headline tour for a bewitching night of mystery and mischief. Continue reading →

Top Tracks: Lily Kershaw – Pain & More

/ James Fenney

I remember watching a video essay about horror soundtracks, and how they often feature the most beautiful music as a way of relieving tension. It remarked that the counter to horror wasn’t music that was bright and joyous, but rather sounds that were calm and peaceful. A brief moment of respite like the eye of a hurricane. In some strange way this song reminds me of that philosophy. The title track of Lily Kershaw’s latest album, ‘Pain & More’ lives in the shadow of heartbreak, full of a wistful yearning for brighter days. Yet the antidote for that pain isn’t a balm of grand overwhelming joy, the days that Lily longs for aren’t the greatest days of her life. Instead the remedy for heartache lies in simple pleasures, the kind often taken for granted. The true best days of our lives are the unremarkable ones we forget about. The song’s lyrics speak of merely having enough fuel in the car and money in the bank to get by, its video a nostalgic reflection on a quaint afternoon at the arcade. The sparse bittersweet arrangement and Lily’s bright Joni Mitchell-esque vocals offering a peaceful oasis, the eye of the storm safe from the horrors of heartache.

Top Tracks: Coda Nova – Symmetry

/ James Fenney

This latest track from Atlanta based prog metal outfit Coda Nova is a prime example of a song practicing what it preaches. ‘Symmetry’ tells the tale of scientists pushing the boundaries of discovery, and the dangers of letting scientific advancements reach realms that humans aren’t ready to meddle with. Asking whether progress truly progress if it means doing more harm than good. Though its lyrics are left vague and open to interpretation, the track’s philosophy is mirrored in its arrangement. Much as I love the prog space, I’ve seen many a band stumble over their own ambition. Losing musicality in their pursuit of complexity, not realising when they’ve pushed too far beyond the boundaries. Though Coda Nova exhibit plenty of ambition here, between the intricate guitar work, atmospheric breakdown, and seamless shifts between different sections, the band at all times feel grounded. With ‘Symmetry’s soaring vocals, reminiscent of Coheed & Cambria’s Claudio Sanchez, and its earworm lead riffs combining to form a killer chorus, it’s clear that the band knows what works. Returning you to the highlights at precisely the right moment without ever spiralling out too far.