Author: James Fenney

Spotlight!: Rosie H Sullivan

/ James Fenney

There’s a myriad of things wrong with the state of the music industry today, but credit where it’s due, as in a sense music has never been more accessible. A laptop can turn any bedroom, in any quiet little neighbourhood, into a recording studio. A song on the internet could reach and resonate with people in the most forgotten far flung corners of the world. Making music, like all art, is an act of expression. Telling your story and letting your voice be heard. In another time, a voice like Rosie H Sullivan’s might never have been heard outside of a few small rooms in the Outer Hebrides. Her story, her perspective, the artistic lens through which she sees the world, might have been lost to the wider world. Yet we live in a time when the intimacy of those cosy rooms can be shared with the masses, where the isolated islands she calls home can welcome a wealth of new visitors simply by closing their eyes and being swept away by her words. Continue reading →

Top Tracks: Fieldlily – Sunrise

/ James Fenney

The sun will rise tomorrow; that’s just the way of things. The dawn doesn’t care if you believe in it or not, it just is. No matter how long and dark the night may seem, the light is creeping ever closer as sure as clockwork. What that new day holds – who knows? So much is uncertain in our lives, but at least we can place our trust in one constant, one source of light and warmth that never strays too far. Whether you choose to seize it, savour it, or simply let it pass by like so many others, life is a constant stream of new days and new beginnings. A fitting sentiment then for the debut single from Fieldlily, the latest project from Beth and Emillie Key from Wildwood Kin. Forging a fresh path forward as a duo under a new name brings both tantalising possibility and daunting uncertainty, and ‘Sunrise’ is a hopeful reminder to have faith that there’s always light ahead. With its subtle airy atmosphere, an interlude full of expressive drum work, and comforting melodies elevated by the sisters’ heart-warming harmonies, it’s a stunning start to this new chapter. I have faith Fieldlily will have plenty more delightful creations to share in the days ahead, just as sure as the sun rises.

Top Tracks: Dog Door – Cover Up Contest

/ James Fenney

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.

Top Tracks: Natalie Shay – Figure of 8

/ James Fenney

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.

Live Review: The Last Dinner Party, The Welly Hull, 15th Oct 2023

/ James Fenney

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 →

Top Tracks: Manpreet Kundi – Something

/ James Fenney

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.