Nailing that dreamy bittersweet atmosphere can be tricky, but not for Brooklyn band Looms. On this new single from their forthcoming album The Way Up they make it seem almost effortless. ‘Eclipse’, so named as it was written on a rooftop in the middle of one, is equal parts sad and sanguine, with the latter owing much to the vibrant guitar work of Wilco’s Nels Cline. Written post break-up it feels as much of a celebration of what once was, as it does a lament at the fact that it’s no longer there. Part of the song’s bittersweet charm is in how you can approach it from either perspective; as a warm smile with sadness behind the eyes, or the first rays of hope blooming in someone feeling downtrodden. It can empathise or it can energise, that part is down to you, just listen and see where it leads you.
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Spotlight!: LIILY
EPs are the weapon of choice for bands looking to put their name out there and make people sit up and pay attention, and for the ideal example of one done right look no further than I Can Fool Anybody in This Town. LIILY have not only made a real front-runner for our EP of the year, but it’s also one of the most convincing mission statements from a new band that you’re ever likely to hear. With their first EP this group of teenagers from LA have struck the perfect balance between passion and precision. It’s wild and fierce, yet never misses the mark, the musical equivalent of an apex predator.
You can hear them draw influence from all the right places, hints of Queens of the Stone Age in ‘The Weather’, a dash of ‘Royal Blood’ in the chorus of ‘Sold’, even a bit of Arcade Fire in the funky groove of ‘Sepulveda Basin’, but at the same time they manage to put their own stamp on it. What really makes LIILY stand out is the rhythm section. Sure, you have great riffs on the likes of ‘Toro’, but they don’t hog the spotlight as is the case with so many other bands in the scene. The drums very much take the lead on the EP’s title track, with some stunning fills on ‘Sold’ too, while the bass on ‘Nine’ is simply outstanding throughout. With this new release LIILY seem set to be one of the most exciting discoveries of 2019.
LIILY’s debut EP I Can Fool Anybody in This Town is out 8th March and is perfect for fans of Royal Blood, Foals and Nothing But Thieves.
Album Review: Hozier – Wasteland, Baby!
Hozier – Wasteland, Baby!Top Tracks: Lots Holloway – Be Naked
There’s always a place in my heart for artists that are versatile, that aren’t afraid to change-up their style and try new things. Lots caught my attention with her darker side a couple of years back, but her new single ‘Be Naked’ shows a different facet to her talents. As the title suggests this track is a much more intimate and vulnerable affair. The melodies warm and welcoming like the first sun of spring, its lyrics written directly from the heart. Following a journey of finding acceptance with a relationship falling apart, at times feeling almost like a confessional with herself as much as with a lover, it’s as honest and sincere as they come. ‘Be Naked’ shows the kind of emotional maturity that most people, never mind songwriters, fail to show. Being true to and accepting of your deepest feelings is a difficult task, to put it into song even more so, but Lots Holloway has managed it with this latest track.
Album Review: Dream Theater – Distance Over Time
Dream Theater – Distance Over TimeTop Tracks: Russian Baths – Slenderman
Sometimes there’s real beauty in chaos. In the waves crashing haphazardly upon the shore, or the unpredictable flicker of flames that we find so bewitching. The new single from Brooklyn’s Russian Baths is certainly chaotic – it’s wild, and fierce, and uncompromising – but also beautiful. ‘Slenderman’, taken from their Penance EP, is an exhilarating ride wherein each element plays a key role. The wild percussion teeters on the precipice of disorder, imparting such a volatile vibe to the track. The relentless pounding bass is like the footfalls of some unseen horror rushing towards you, while the whirlwind guitar bursts forth and spirals towards the heavens. At the centre of it all are the serene hazy vocals, the calm at the eye of the hurricane. Really, this whole track is as mental as it is marvellous.
Top Tracks: Sail By Summer – Casual Drive
‘Casual Drive’, in spite of what its name suggests, feels far from casual. It’s brimming with purpose right from the first few notes. This latest single from Scandinavian duo Sail By Summer is not built for leisurely trips along winding country roads, rather for hammering down the highway. Though the track boast some superbly layered synths, and guitar tones that light up the track in staccato bursts like fireworks in the night sky, what really sells this track is the rhythm section. It’s in the driving post punk bass line and effervescent drum flourishes that the track finds the energy that wins me over. The relentless march onward without ever looking back on the road behind. Not that I blame them, as if there are more tracks like this on the road ahead then it’s sure to be worth the journey.
Interview: Miccoli
Belwood favourites Miccoli have been having a whirlwind 2019 thus far. The Birmingham based trio of siblings first won us over with the glowing melodies and infectious hooks of their debut EP 1/2 back in 2017. This year has already seen them release a full album and share the stage at packed out arenas up and down the country. It’s such a joy seeing them on the up and up, so we grabbed a moment out of their busy schedule for a quick catch up. Continue reading
Top Tracks: CUTTS – Breathe
Love isn’t about grand gestures, it’s about the little things. A touch of their hand, the sound of their laughter, a little smile that just melts your heart. Those intimate moments that may seem insignificant to the rest of the world, but they mean the world to you. It’s the little things that make you fall in love, and they’re also what you miss most if that love should fail or falter. That same sentiment is echoed in the new single from alternative pop duo CUTTS. ‘Breathe’ strips things back so that it’s just the piano and the vocals that take centre stage, and speaks of the memories of minor things that made a love grow being the only part that remains when all else has faded away. The more you listen, the more this honest and understated track winds its way into your heart.
Gold Complex – New Soul
Belwood Music 