The Gaslight Anthem – History Books
Heartland Rock
59%
Photographers the world over have the ability to take crisp, clear digital photos, and yet many still gravitate to the look and feel of vintage film. It’s faded, grainy, full of the orange glare of light leak, far from the perfect way to capture a subject; but therein lies the charm. Something about those flaws, the dust, the scratches, that warm glow, just gives pictures an otherworldly shimmer. Photos like that feel like a window into a memory, as the nostalgia filter in our brain warps our recollection of the past in much the same way. The tender lo-fi arrangement of ‘Cover Up Contest’ is a prime example of that same principle in music. Dog Door, a collaboration between Jamie Cameron of Belwood favourites The Last Dinosaur and Oakland, California based creative Oliver Girdler, draw from the lighter side of bands like Sparklehorse and Talk Talk to imbue their debut single with that same wistful shimmer. ‘Cover Up Contest’ is a grainy vignette of a long forgotten summer, full of the same warm uncanny glow we afford all cherished memories.
Indie pop powerhouse Natalie Shay sure has remarkable knack for turning drama into euphoria. I don’t know how she does it; taking all of her anger, pain and frustration and using it to fuel some of the most upbeat and effervescent bops around. Her latest display of emotional alchemy, ‘Figure of 8’, details the vicious circle of being stuck in an addictive toxic relationship. How no matter how many times they hurt you and let you down, they keep finding a way to reel you back in. Each time they try and convince you that things will change, that this time will be different, some part of you believes them despite all evidence to the contrary. ‘Figure of 8’s relentless energy turns that downward spiral into a rollercoaster; that stomach drop moment may be inevitable, but may as well enjoy the adrenaline rush while it lasts. The cathartic singalong chorus compels you to channel all your hurt into it and let it all get lost in the joyous whirlwind. Replace that lead weight holding you down for something shimmering and golden.

In some ways I can understand why the term ‘Industry Plant‘ has been thrown around in conversations surrounding The Last Dinner Party. After all, it’s human nature to search for a plausible answer in the face of something that defies explanation. They just seem too good to be true. Releasing an instantly iconic debut single that oozes such effortless charisma, and then exploring new horizons with the tracks that followed while still maintaining that same astonishingly high standard. Their entrancing costume drama aesthetic, the theatricality of their music videos, the wild cathartic revelry of their live performances… hell, even the band’s logo is glorious! I get how someone may listen to their inner cynic before believing that the universe would gift us with a new band who are so assured, engaging and stylish this early into their career. They say seeing is believing, so I felt the need to catch The Last Dinner Party in Hull on their UK tour to see them for myself. Continue reading
Often the heaviest burden to bear after a break-up is the sheer weight of all the unknowns and uncertainties. We’re perhaps the most sure of ourselves when we’re in love. We know what’s in our heart, we know the life that we want to build and share, and so it’s understandable to assume that the other person in the relationship would share the same level of conviction and devotion. We’re so focused on the path our own heart leads that we take for granted our faith that the other person is following two steps behind. But when the day comes when we turn around and they’re not there, we have no way of knowing how long they walked that same path with us before their heart wandered elsewhere or turned back, or even if they were ever on the same path at all. The gorgeous new single from singer/songwriter Manpreet Kundi captures that feeling of retracting your steps in search for answers. With the wistful elegance of Lizzy McAlpine, and the haunting melancholy of Lana Del Rey, the tender piano balladry of ‘Something’ is an affecting reflection on what you truly meant to someone who once meant the world to you.
A great song deserves to have an equally great story behind it, and this latest track from rising singer/songwriter Sophia Alexa does just that. We all have our own burdens to bear, our own emotional baggage to carry. All the doubts and fears, insecurities and regrets, that drag us down like stones in our pockets. Sophia’s uplifting new single ‘Stones’ was born from an interaction with her father that provided a fresh perspective. A moment when she was given a stone and told that it represents the love that others have for her, and that it’s the only stone she need carry. A beautiful exchange, whose sentiment is now immortalised in song. I adore how the frail, delicate folk of ‘Stones’ opening moments gives way to a subtle swell of guitars, Sophia’s most strong and assured melodies, and a propulsive driving drum beat. That surge in energy truly captures the sensation of a weight being lifted, of a helping hand lifting you out of the darkness and pushing you forward towards a brighter tomorrow.