Sounding akin to Angel Olsen fronting The War On Drugs, and with hints of Fear Fun era Father John Misty thrown in for good measure, the new single from this Vegas born singer/songwriter is sure to be the kind of song that people have been waiting all their lives for without even realising it. The cinematic and bittersweet ‘It’s Alright’ is top class indie material that gives some of the scene’s heavy hitters a run for their money. Drawing influences from indie rock, folk, dream pop and Americana, Sam Valdez has all the makings of something very special. With tracks of this calibre it’s not hard to imagine Sam releasing a much beloved and critically acclaimed album in the not too distant future.
Top Tracks: By An Ion – Autre Vie
I often find myself coming back to the word “expansive” to describe music, but if you needed a textbook definition of what exactly I mean by it then look no further than the latest track from this LA based synthpop duo. One listen to ‘Autre Vie’ is all it takes for you to feel like there’s an entire galaxy of sound swirling round your head. Somehow managing to be both anthemic and atmospheric, this cut from their upcoming EP Violet Sky is like a heaven-sent dose of good vibes. It inspires awe and affection like it should be part of an Attenborough documentary sharing all the majesty of our world. By An Ion have delivered a regal and uplifting single which is unparalleled in its scope and grandeur.
Album Review: Glassmaps – Strangely Addicted
Glassmaps – Strangely AddictedLive Review: 2Q Lincoln 2017
There hasn’t been a good track record this year for small festivals. After the abject failure of Liverpool’s Hope & Glory Festival, the news of another new city festival surely must have set off a few alarm bells. I am delighted to report however that Lincoln’s inaugural 2Q Festival broke the downward trend, and provided a jam-packed day of entertainment for music fans from across the county and beyond. The event really brought out the best of this picturesque city and set the foundations for yet greater festivals further down the line. Continue reading
Album Review: Dog in the Snow – Consume Me
Dog in the Snow – Consume MeAlbum Review: Red Kite – Racquet
Red Kite – RaquetTop Tracks: Pearla – Somewhere
Following on from her debut EP If You’re Not Alright Now, New York based singer/songwriter Pearla is back with her new single. ‘Somewhere’ talks about feeling lost in this crazy world, and about having little control over the course of your life. With its music box melody and Pearla’s delicate vocals it begins with an air of childlike innocence, with the haphazard electronic drums echoing in the background like it’s part of another world that we are mostly oblivious to. The track soon builds into a full cacophonous wall-of-sound, like facing the harsh realities of the world, before it all settles down again by the track’s closing moments. It’s like a journey through the course of a lifetime in a single song, and like life it is made to be savoured.
Critic’s Choice: Peanut Mixtape
This month’s edition of “Critic’s Choice” brings you five fresh picks from Dale from Peanut Mixtape. Music writers are music fans first and foremost, and all the best reviews are written lovingly. Browsing through Peanut Mixtape you find reviews written with a whole lot of heart, and a dash of humour to boot. When someone connects with the music, they in turn are better equipt to get you to form a connection with it, and it soon becomes clear reading the site that here is someone who really believes in the music. So, without further ado, here’s a selection of some of PM’s most loved bands: Continue reading
Top Tracks: Satellite Citi – Undead
Songs offering a message of empowerment are usually a tender musical embrace, occasionally building up to some soaring triumphant climax. While any tracks that send a positive message are to be applauded, one can’t help but wonder why we can’t have some that are a little more, well… badass! LA based duo Satellite Citi certainly deliver on that front, with ‘Undead’s thunderous riffs recalling Royal Blood and Wolfmother, and its spiralling solo offering hints of Iron Maiden. Taken from their upcoming debut EP Negative Space, it also boast an equally fierce and uplifting video, as a LGBT youth who has hit rock bottom is given a new lust for life with a little help from a mystical arcade game. It rocks your socks off and offers a powerful message; what’s not to love.
Embers – Part of the Echoes
Belwood Music 