Author: James Fenney

Top Tracks: Exploring Birdsong – Romanticise

/ James Fenney

I love a good villain song – they were the highlight of practically every Disney film as a kid. Villains in movies always seem to be having a blast; hogging the spotlight, chewing the scenery, performing ridiculously over-the-top acts of wickedness and skulduggery. The kind of villainy we encounter in real life however is nowhere near as charming. Everyday evil is something simple, banal and empty. We rationalise the actions of those that hurt us as something intentionally antagonistic and spiteful, because that makes sense, moreso than the reality that toxicity is often just their broken default setting. ‘Romanticise’, from progressive pop trio Exploring Birdsong, takes the everyday evil of a toxic relationship and dials it up to moustache twirling levels of villainy.

Written from the perspective of the perpetrator, it depicts someone with a well of malice within, who sees the world through red lenses. Someone eager to cause pain (“I opened up your chest, your heart is on a plate, So I filled the wound with salt, and put it on a flame“) and so cartoonishly wicked as to view positivity with derision and distain (“You could romanticise a car wreck at 80, the sky while it’s raining“). A great villain song delves into a darker place while still being a fun ride, and between the twisted lyricism, the gut-punch metal breakdown, and that addictive earworm chorus, Exploring Birdsong absolutely nailed it. ‘Romanticise’ is one of band’s best tracks to date, and I can’t get enough of it.

Top Tracks: Holly Humberstone – Die Happy

/ James Fenney

I’ve heard it said that falling in love is giving someone the power to destroy you and trusting them not to. There’s danger inherent in being so vulnerable with another person, to let so much of your own happiness ride on them. Holly Humberstone’s latest single embraces the danger. ‘Die Happy’ is all about throwing yourself into love, fully and recklessly. Whatever the outcome, the rush is worth it. Holly’s soft heady vocals carry a dreamy quality in the vein of Lana Del Rey, while the wistful synth work imbues the track with the same level of nostalgia and romanticism as a John Hughes movie. The beating heart of it all though is its gorgeous, bittersweet chorus. That earworm refrain of “if we crash and kiss the dash, baby, tragically, To die with you is to die happy” feels like a line lifted straight out of ‘There Is A Light That Never Goes Out’. This kind of airy gothic romance suits Holly down to the ground, and leaves me eager to hear what other delights her next record will have in store.

Top Tracks: Patricia Atzur – Freddy Krooner

/ James Fenney

Things like grief, trauma and heartache have a way of lingering in the back of your mind long after you thought you were over it. A lovely day can be ruined by something innocuous triggering a memory you thought you’d long buried, or a peaceful night can be ruined by your subconscious mind reopening a dark chapter. Barcelona based artist Patricia Atzur perfectly captures the latter, the moment when dreams turn into nightmares, with her ingeniously titled new single ‘Freddy Krooner’. Opening with a gorgeous soft jazz melody that feels like the soundtrack to a romantic summer getaway on a sun-kissed tropical beach, the track takes a dramatic shift halfway through into darker territory. A frantic pace kicks in, urging you on as though some unseen terror is hot on your heels, as the wailing guitar begins to hum with the menace of a swarm of angry hornets, all before collapsing back into the tranquil setting where we first started. What’s more, the music video really adds to the dreamlike feel with its trippy and unnerving Twin Peaks style visuals, able to slip between the dreamy and the nightmarish with ease. On ‘Freddy Krooner’, Patricia Atzur not only hones in on a great concept, but commits to it wholeheartedly on every level, elevating it into something truly fascinating.

What’s The Point Of Music Journalism?

/ James Fenney
Photo by Sebastian Ervi on Pexels.com

It’s been said that writing about music is like dancing about architecture – flawed, futile, even downright ridiculous. People have been criticising the place and purpose of music journalism for as long as journalists themselves have been critiquing music, but its relevancy is getting called into question now more than ever. What authority does a journalist have; what gives their opinion any more weight or validity than anyone else’s? With sales of physical media making up a small percentage of how the public engages with music, reviews don’t provide the consumer friendly role they once did. There’s no money on the line anymore, nothing to lose, you can just press play and decide for yourself. In fact, there’s all the music in the world at your fingertips, available to be listened to anywhere, at any time, at the mere push of a button. So, what role does music journalism actually serve in the age of streaming? Continue reading →

Top Tracks: Del Roscoe – Black Hats

/ James Fenney

The best folk songs are those that feel like they’re telling a story that’s been retold a thousand times. Words of wisdom that get passed down through generations, scary stories flitting from one fireside to another, tales warning about the horrors that lurk just beyond the woods. With ‘Black Hats’, Atlanta based Americana outfit Del Roscoe give voice to a cautionary tale that feels especially apt and timely for the world we find ourselves in. It sees the same old vicious cycle of hatred personified as some skeletal spectre heralding the end times; describing those that peddle fear and lies, stoking mistrust and division, all in order to sate their own greed and desire for control. Nestled within this twisted tale lay sage advice about how best to stand firm against the rising tide of darkness – shoulder to shoulder, in solidarity with one another, and refusing to give an inch. Pairing this prescient message with a wonderfully handcrafted video, with a pop-up book storytelling style and the band sporting uncanny paper mache masks, does wonders to add to the spooky campfire atmosphere. Breathing new life into an old warning that sadly oft needs repeating, ‘Black Hats’ is a story that deserves to be shared far and wide.

Top Tracks: Elina – Scars

/ James Fenney

The way a vinyl record crackles away in the background like white noise. When an artist hits a duff note, or snaps a string. Recordings that capture a singer taking in a breath, or doing their best to choke back tears during an especially emotional ballad. Nothing endears me to a piece of music more than moments of humanity like these. There’s just something so raw, so real, about having those flaws on full display, rather than trying to polish over them and hide them away from the world. If only we could embrace that same mentality when looking at ourselves in the mirror. Swedish singer/songwriter Elina celebrates the beauty in imperfection with her charming new single ‘Scars’. How every scar tells a story, every odd little quirk adds up to make us unique, and to the right person every fault we’d otherwise try our best to hide is what drew them to us in the first place. Teaming up with British singer James TW for this gorgeous duet, their voices intertwine beautifully to deliver a tender message of love and acceptance: “All of your flaws, You make them yours, Has it ever crossed your mind that they are what I love you for“.