Songs like ‘Vixen Queen’ are special in many ways, but perhaps the most telling of all for me is the sense of wanderlust that they ignite. Listening to this new single from alt folk troubadour Matthew Gordon Price, taken from his new EP Rivalry, I can’t help but picture hiking with friends along some woodland trail, not a care in the world about the destination, just revelling in the journey as the sun streams through the canopy. It’s the kind of song that inspires adventure and leaves you longing to leave your old life behind in search of new frontiers. ‘Vixen Queen’ has a timeless feel that is sure to warm your heart. Bringing together the rustic charm of The Felice Brothers, the lush instrumentation of First Aid Kit, and the passionate vocals of Glen Hansard, Matthew’s sublime new single is one adventure that is not to be missed.
top tracks
Top Tracks: Veladraco – Coldest Winter Day
We’ve all done it: sat on public transport, rain falling upon the window as you look out into the world, listening to a song you’re so completely absorbed in that you forget everything else exists. When that perfect song comes up at the perfect time it feels like you’re at the centre of a movie and are filming some bittersweet montage where you reflect on all that’s happened, and all that’s still to come. This cinematic new single from South African band Veladraco is just such a song. Walking a fine line between introspective and anthemic, it’s a song to hold you up and keep you moving forward when you just don’t know how to feel anymore. Wherever your journey leads, whatever comes next in your story, ‘Coldest Winter Day’ is just the companion you need.
Top Tracks: Tancred – Reviews
‘Reviews’ is my first experience of Tancred, but it certainly won’t be the last. This first single from forthcoming album Nightstand, out 1st June, showcases an astounding interplay of light and shade. With the imposing bass tones and sombre, introspective lyricism juxtaposed against bright flashes of indie guitar and keyboards, and infectious pop melodies, this track is a paragon of bittersweet brilliance. There are two whole worlds captured here in a mere three minutes, the perfect musical yin and yang. The music is equal parts lush and lo-fi, and the contrast between the downcast lyrics of the verses to the heartwarming hints of optimism in the chorus says something of the two sides at war within all of us. Both the storm cloud and the silver lining, this is truly a song for every occasion.
Top Tracks: Dessie Magee – Bandit
With a voice so gritty as to wear down your defences and warm even the coldest of hearts, Irish singer/songwriter Dessie Magee leaves a lasting impression with his new track ‘Bandit’. From its gentle acoustic origins it soon builds towards a cathartic climax that reminds me of Seafret’s ‘Oceans’. Yet even as the track expands layer by layer, delving beyond its folk beginnings into a more rock orientated release, Dessie’s unique vocals remain the finest instrument on display. Tackling the important subject of mental health, and how we’re pressured into keeping our pain bottled up to fester within by society, makes ‘Bandit’ all the more compelling. Any song that shares such an important message is worth sharing, but when a performance is as powerful as this, where you can feel an artist pour their very soul into their work, you know you have something special that needs to be heard.
Top Tracks: Rich Krueger – The Gospel According To Carl
There’s something incredibly compelling about a song that can tell a story, and while dystopian futures and deals with the devil are all well and good, often the best tales (if told well) are about ordinary people. In ‘The Gospel According To Carl’, taken from Rich’s debut album Life Ain’t That Long, we follow the downfall of a crooked used car salesman as he has a crisis of faith, finds a conscience, and subsequently loses all his ill-gotten gains. To sum up Carl’s story in one sentence though does this song a great disservice, as there are scores of Oscar-winning movies that lack the kind of depth and character development that this song excels in. With the droll humour and brilliant storytelling of Randy Newman, and the soulful passionate delivery of Van Morrison, Rich Krueger can weave wonderful tales with the best of them.
Top Tracks: Anne Haight – Clarity
This new song from Berlin based songwriter Anne Haight really lives up to its name. ‘Clarity’, the title track from her new acoustic EP, is as clear and pure as the finest crystal. Her angelic vocals are the kind that could instil silent awe in any crowd, and her delicate yet definite fingerpicking folk guitar catches your attention as notes fall like water droplets in some serene mountain stream. In fact, it’s hard not to picture mountains, footprints in the snow and the feel of the icy breeze as her rich lyricism is enough to take you away if you simply close your eyes and get lost within the song awhile. This song is simply beautiful from start to finish and perfect for those quiet cosy nights.
Top Tracks: Elemantra – Low Dose Of Irony
This alt rock quartet from Salamanca, NY have captured the reckless abandon of youth with this track from their forthcoming third album. Recalling the likes of Slowdive and The Smashing Pumpkins, ‘Low Dose Of Irony’ embodies everything that made rock in the 90s so keenly relatable to a lost and angst-ridden generation, but at the same time giving it a modern indie twist. The central breakdown, conjuring up emphatic bass tones, adventurous drum fills and soaring guitars, really shows what Elemantra can do. As well as being the highlight of the track, it’s the epitome of what songs like this are all about. There’s a unique kind of freedom woven into the fabric of the music that makes you feel like there are endless possibilities all within your grasp if you’re willing to take the plunge, and this is the soundtrack that will take you there.
Top Tracks: Overjoyed – Taxi Driver
Though they don’t often make an appearance on the site, I listen to a lot of long songs. I’ve lost count of the number of times someone I know has been baffled as to how someone can come up with enough ideas to fill a song that’s ten, even twenty minutes long. In a bizarre twist of fate however, Swedish band Overjoyed have given me a taste of my own medicine, and have left me wondering just how they can pack so much content into a mere two minutes. ‘Taxi Driver’ takes everything you need for a compelling indie hit – bright uplifting riffs, relatable lyrics, oodles of energy and an infectious chorus – trims it all down and refines it, leaving us with this pure and concentrated indie anthem. This diamond of a track is a real crowd-pleaser in the making, and I doubt you’ll hear a more engaging two minutes of music all year.
Top Tracks: River Fury – Jewels Of The City
Radio airplay does its best to wear us down through a war of attrition, hoping that if they play a song often enough that the hook will stay with you. Sometimes it works, but the truth is that a good hook doesn’t need it, after just one listen you’re… well, hooked! The debut single from London based indie pop outfit River Fury does just that, delivering a killer chorus that is sure to leave you wanting more. The band cites a wide range of influences, and I myself hear hints of early Kasier Chiefs in the verses, Matthew and the Atlas in a few of the melodies, and even the lighter side of Coheed and Cambria in the backing vocals. The band are clearly keen listeners, embracing new ideas and sounds and feeding them back into their own music. In doing so they have crafted a debut single that carries universal appeal and an infectious positive energy. It’s one hell of a first impression and I look forward to seeing where their music goes next.
Top Tracks: Native – Don’t Forget Me
Do you ever find yourself doing the “soundtrack test”? You stumble across a song that feels like it should play a part in something important and your mind starts to wander. You imagine how it would fit in your favourite show, you create your own story in your head as you listen to it while watching passers-by. Songs like ‘Don’t Forget Me’ make the dull drudgery of the everyday feel extraordinary, make even the quietest introspective nights seem like part of some greater plan. This track from Swiss artist Native, with its bittersweet vocals, chilled out vibes and dramatic build towards an emotional climax, doesn’t whisk you away from your life to some other place like so many of the songs that tug at our heartstrings. Instead it pulls off a more difficult feat; it makes you feel like right here, right now, is a place worth being and an adventure worth taking.
Belwood Music 