Everyone cherry picks the best moments to show the world. All the moments of triumph, all the accomplishments you’re most proud of, all the blissful holidays and the days when you look your best. No one wants to broadcast the days when you’re an absolute shambles. All the times when you’re ill, or anxious, or clumsy. All the days when it feels like nothing is working out the way you wanted. Sometimes we convince ourselves that we’re the only ones who have bad days and buy into everyone’s facade, and sometimes we get so used to forcing a smile that even those close to us can’t see when we’re struggling. It takes real courage to let the glamour fall away and show the world that you’re just as flawed and imperfect as anyone, that no one has their life together the way they pretend to. Belwood favourite Cristina Hart does just that with her sparkling new single ‘I’m a Mess’. With its earworm melodies and immaculate production this dazzling self-deprecating pop powerhouse is a relatable reminder that you don’t always need to be on your A game, and to take a moment every now and then to celebrate all the little quirks that make you who you are. No need to force a smile anymore, as you won’t be able to keep from smiling with this gorgeous bop to brighten your day.
Author: James Fenney
Album Review: Bob Dylan – Rough and Rowdy Ways
Bob Dylan – Rough and Rowdy WaysTop Tracks: Evening Hymns – Pyrenees
Some songs act as time capsules for the moment they were written. Every time you press play you get a picture of the surroundings where inspiration struck, and for a fleeting moment feel just what was running through the artist’s mind. Composed atop the eponymous mountain range, ‘Pyrenees’ was born of songwriter Jonas Bonnetta having a moment of rest and reflection alone after time spent on the road and finding catharsis in creation. All that comes across in the very essence of this latest single from Evening Hymns’ new album Heavy Nights (out 26th June). In how it’s lavish and hazy arrangement feels like standing on top of the world looking down on all the hustle and bustle below, and in how this slow burner simply crackles with pent up energy. The stunning addition of Destroyer saxophonist Joseph Shabason just lights up the song like a flash of lightning amongst rolling storm clouds. With the dreamy Americana of The War On Drugs, the multifaceted grandeur of Bon Iver and a sophisticated retro pop feel akin to Bruce Hornsby, ‘Pyrenees’ is simply marvellous from start to finish.
Album Review: Phoebe Bridgers – Punisher
Phoebe Bridgers – PunisherAlbum Review: Soccer Mommy – Color Theory
Soccer Mommy – Color TheoryTop Tracks: Raye Zaragoza – Fight Like A Girl
I think we’ve seen enough misery and suffering in 2020 to last a lifetime. What we could all do with right now is something to restore our faith in humanity. Spirited singer/songwriter Raye Zaragoza has provided in our hour of need with her empowering feminist anthem ‘Fight Like A Girl’. While the song itself has an irresistible charm; an enchanting concoction of heartwarming brass, soulful vocals, passionate lyricism and vibrant folk melodies; it’s the visuals that really take the track to a whole other level. A magnificent collage of inspiring women of all faiths, ages and backgrounds coming together to show that a better world is possible. You see moments of child-like innocence, strong women standing up to let their voice be heard, and a myriad of gorgeous displays of artistic expression. There’s all kinds of vibrant snapshots of diverse cultures to shine a light on incredible women living their best lives all across the globe. There’s a truly uplifting energy to ‘Fight Like A Girl’. The winning combination of the warm and welcoming music with the empowering visuals make for exactly the kind of life-affirming experience we all need.
Top Tracks: Mashmellow – Heaven Is You
This new single from Russian dream pop duo Mashmellow sits at a gorgeous stylistic crossroads. Give it the time an attention it so richly deserves and ‘Heaven Is You’ can be both a quiet moment of introspection and a fulfilling flash of contentment. Taken from their forthcoming EP Someday Club, it bears all the familiar dream pop hallmarks we know and love; the lush hazy atmosphere, the bittersweet melodies, the way way it makes you want to wistfully stare out the window on a rainy day and ponder your place in the world. Scratch the surface however and you find that it’s a track which is full of heart and has so much more to offer. With an infectious summery groove and its lovestruck lyricism, it’s the kind of song that makes you want to look at the world through rose tinted glasses. You see those same rain clouds bathed in the warm glow of the sunset, again ponder your place in the world, and realise that at this moment you’re exactly where you’re meant to be.
Album Review: Janet Devlin – Confessional
Janet Devlin – ConfessionalAlbum Review: The Howl & The Hum – Human Contact
The Howl & The Hum – Human ContactTop Tracks: David Ramirez – My Love is a Hurricane
Some ideas are everywhere. They spring up all over the world; crossing oceans, defying language barriers and spanning centuries. With so many unconnected people sharing the same beliefs it’s tempting to think that it’s because there’s some underlying truth to it all. Take for instance the idea that when and where we’re born can dictate who we become and the course of our future. All throughout history mankind has wondered if our stories have already been mapped out in the stars. With his latest single ‘My Love is a Hurricane’ David Ramirez is the latest mind to ponder this great mystery. Born just days after a hurricane swept through his hometown, Ramirez was left wondering after a tumultuous break-up whether he had chaos running through his veins. Whether that storm was a sign of things to come and that he was destined to forever leave havoc in his wake. The song itself however, the title track of his new album out 17th July, is far from being an untamed tempest. Instead ‘My Love is a Hurricane’ is a sumptuous slow burner: with a soft psychedelic sheen adding an air of mystery, fuzzy guitar tones growling menacingly from the darkness, powerful gospel arrangements offering a grand sense of scale, and with David’s stunning soulful vocals at the centre of it all. Being born under a bad sign can’t be as bad as they say if it means being able to create such impressive works of art as this.
Belwood Music 