I think at this point 2020’s never-ending doldrums and looming sense of dread have brought everyone’s spirits low to some degree. Though we’re all facing much the same struggle, it hits far harder for some more than others. For those who have struggled with their mental health, and have fought hard to keep their demons at bay and find peace of mind, the toll that this year has taken can be difficult to bear. It’s a devastating setback that can feel as though it’s undone years of hard to work. With this latest cut from their debut album Moveys, Chicago based Slow Pulp offer a reminder to try not to define yourself by your mental health. There’s no straight line from struggle to salvation, it’s a constant up and down with plenty of bumps in the road. ‘Montana’ pleads patience and forgiveness, to not beat yourself up when you falter but to take what time you need to recover before you can start moving forward again. The dreamy vocals, soft slide guitar and the gorgeous heartwarming harmonica serve as a comforting hand on your shoulder to say “hey, we all stumble sometimes, but if you’re patient with yourself then you’ll get there in the end”.
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Album Review: Ailbhe Reddy – Personal History
Album Review: Simon Alexander – A Place to Call Home
Top Tracks: Kris Angelis – My Quiet
We all need a sanctuary in life, something that provides a bit of contentment, peace and fulfillment. An escape after a hectic day when the world is dragging you down. Maybe that something is a person, and simply being close to someone you hold dear is enough to make the world seem that bit brighter. Maybe it’s some place you call home, where you can just snuggle up in a blanket and weather whatever storm rages outside. Or perhaps your respite comes from the pursuit of a passion, finding solace in a hobby that lets you tune out all your worries and while away the hours doing something you love. While we’ve all built up our own unique safe havens, one thing we all share is the longing to get back to them, and the new single from Kris Angelis perfectly captures that feeling. Sometimes just the fact of knowing that your safe harbour is waiting is enough to get you through a tough day, and ‘My Quiet’ is a thankful reflection on the joy and comfort it brings. The warm welcoming melodies, sublimely sweet lyricism and Kris’ heavenly vocals serve as a welcome reminder that sometimes the little things in life can make all the difference.
Help Save The Music Industry #WeMakeEvents
Today we’re joining friends, colleagues and artists we admire in calling for urgent support from the UK government to stop the imminent collapse of our live events sector. Due to the ongoing Covid crisis the industry has been at a standstill since March, and there’s no way of knowing when things can begin to return to normal. Live events were the first industry to close due to preventative measures surrounding the virus, and will be among the last to reopen, and in the interim hundreds of thousands of people have been left out of work and without any sign of sufficient support from the government. It’s impossible to understate to potential damage that will be done by the government’s inaction, and how important it is that you join in making a stand and making your voices heard.
Album Review: Sufjan Stevens – The Ascension
Album Review: Gazpacho – Fireworker
Top Tracks: Michael Lane – Coming Home
What truly is “home”? Is it the place where our bed is, the building that contains most of our possessions, the house we spend more time in than any other? Is it the same four walls we’ve been staring at while in lockdown for most of the year? When you think about it, home needn’t be connected to just one place, home is wherever you make it. It’s wherever you find safety, peace and comfort, it’s how you feel when you’re surrounded by the people that love you, it’s your sanctuary from the outside world. Home isn’t four walls, it’s a feeling of contentment and meaning that you can carry with you. The new track from Michael Lane not only serves to remind us of that fact, but also offers a taste of how it feels. He breathes blissfully vivid imagery into every line of this track; birdsong and babbling brooks, forests and fireflies, sunsets and the smile of your dearest love as you walk hand in hand. All set against a musical backdrop of soothing and contemplative folk, ‘Coming Home’ provides the very refuge it describes, and reminds us not to take the small moments of quiet joy for granted.
Top Tracks: Rett Madison – Kerosene
Did you know that scientists can’t even begin to match the computing power of the human brain? We’ve seen technology advancing at an astonishing rate over the past few decades, but our own minds are still the most complex machines that we know of. Even 100 years from now we still might not be able to surpass what nature itself has made. Songs like ‘Kerosene’ make me look at music in much the same way. Hearing LA based artist Rett Madison’s vocals on this track, it strikes me that even after centuries of work from skilled craftsmen and artists we are yet to make an instrument to equal the human voice. Rett’s voice is the centrepiece of this track, and with it we are gifted with a gentle and charming country twang alongside stunning soulful crescendos. Between the pain, doubt and vulnerability you can feel in your very heart in the song’s softer moments, and the defiant, passionate force-of-nature chorus that fills the room, you’re left feeling caught in a maelstrom of emotion being dragged deeper with each listen. I can’t think of any instrument made by human hands that can do all that, can make you feel all that, but an incredible voice at the disposal of a supremely talented artist can do all kinds of miraculous things beyond our understanding.
Belwood Music 