The War On Drugs – A Deeper Understanding
Americana | Indie Rock
76%
Spotlight!: The Standard Affiliates
If anywhere in the world knows about summer it’s Southern California, and therefore it should come as no surprise that their native bands know how to write a feel-good summer hit. With their debut EP The Standard Affiliates have made a worthy addition to SoCal’s extensive arsenal of summer ready indie rock anthems. Boasting high energy and high spirits, it doesn’t take much to picture their songs as real crowd pleasers in a live setting. The infectious chorus and bright riffs of ‘Is It News To You’ reminds me of Clean Cut Kid, while the rhythm section work overtime on the intro of ‘Shack’ to build up the beat like a galloping stallion in the distance heading your way. The sharp squalling guitar tones of ‘Naive’ really jump out at you, ‘Daydreams’ conjures up images of carefree days on the beach with its surf rock vibes, while ‘Paint it Gold’ sees The Standard Affiliates at their peak with an indie pop banger that is up there with the best of them. If you need a band to soundtrack your summer adventures, or inspire you to get out there and start them, then you’re in luck.
The Standard Affiliates debut EP Standard is out now and is perfect for fans of Clean Cut Kid, Flyte, The 1975 and the Courteeners.
Top Tracks: Cleargreen – Stargazed
From the in-your-face opening bass line, the debut single from Manchester quartet Cleargreen immediately grabs your attention. A band that can appreciate a great bass will always get my seal of approval. After that opening salvo, Cleargreen keep up the kind of high standard that very few bands ever reach in the first place with their first singles. There’s a lot going on in ‘Stargazed’, more so than your standard indie fare, sounding in some ways like the missing link between The Stone Roses and bands such as Blossoms and Catfish and the Bottlemen. Manchester has a rich and bountiful music history, and if Cleargreen continue down the path set by this superb first step then they’ll truly be a worthy addition to the city’s indie scene.
Interview: Amber Run
Belwood favourites Amber Run have had one hell of a year. Their new album For A Moment, I Was Lost somehow surpassed their stunning debut with the greatest of ease, and secured them a place in my mind as the touchstone of gold standard indie rock. It saw them explore a more mature sound, and showcased the band firing on all cylinders. Following on from their incredible record, and in between their busy tour schedule, they’ve somehow found time to record a new acoustic EP. I had a quick chat to frontman Joe Keogh about the band’s whirlwind year: Continue reading
Album Review: Brand New – Science Fiction
Brand New – Science FictionTop Tracks: The Kondoors – Forgiveness
Sometimes the simplest songs can be the most powerful, partly because they rely on an artist’s ability to fill the empty space and in a sense create something from nothing. ‘Forgiveness’ is a perfect throwback to old-school soul in the vein of Otis Redding or Aretha Franklin, a time of larger-than-life voices and people putting every ounce of their being into each song. This sublime soulful duo have produced a track that could have been one of the Motown hit-factory’s biggest sellers in another life. Jess Greenfield & Gavin Conder’s heartwarming harmonies just make your hair stand on end. They simply don’t make them like this anymore, which makes songs like this all the more special. The Kondoors have rekindled the golden age of soul with stunning single, and I think we could all do with a bit of ‘Forgiveness’ to brighten our days.
Top Tracks: Cub Sport – O Lord
Right from the first few seconds wherein singer Tim Nelson’s voice is laid bare, before others join in to create superb soulful harmonies, ‘O Lord’ just stops you right in your tracks. Leaving you holding your breath and giving the song your full attention. The new single from Australian quartet Cub Sport, taken from their upcoming album BATS out 22nd September, was penned regarding the frontman’s coming out, and I’m sure it’s powerful personal message will resonate with listeners from all corners of the world. Speaking on a personal level as a vulnerable confession of love, and on a bigger scale as a call to the world for understanding and acceptance, this soulful track is about as raw, meaningful and passionate as pop music gets.
Album Review: Steven Wilson – To The Bone
Steven Wilson – To The BoneTop Tracks: VŌS – Tide
Following the success of their first release ‘Patience‘, charming electropop duo VŌS are back again with their latest single. With the gorgeous vocals of Dawn Moss stealing the spotlight, ‘Tide’ introduces some soulful R&B elements into the mix, alongside electronic elements reminiscent of Bon Iver. The chilled out vibes of its stripped back intro set a smooth and soothing atmosphere, with the subtle grooves of the latter half of the track building and enticing you to get your body moving, without you even realising it. Yet again VŌS have provided a perfect example of what electropop is all about, and remain amongst the best examples of the genre I’ve heard all year. Robin Pearkes and Dawn Moss are onto another winner with this one, and are well on their way to becoming Belwood favourites.
Top Tracks: Bearstronaut – Dogs of Carnaval
In any business, identifying your brand is paramount to establishing how your audience perceives you. Bearstronaut; boasting a brand of good times, bad decisions, and great music, continue to identify who they are and what they’re here to do with their latest music video, “Dogs of Carnaval”, which we are proud to premiere here at Belwood Music. Shot entirely in black and white by Alex Enman and Dylan Law of Bottle Tree Pictures, the band grooves through the performance of the song and are caught in a whirl of quirky illustrations, created by Matt Watkins. Whimsical and nostalgic, “Dogs of Carnaval” appeals to the lovelorn looking for hidden musical treats. US readers can see Bearstronaut on Jimmy Kimmel Live! tonight, August 17th, at 11:35pm local time on ABC.
Bearstronaut’s debut album, Telecoast, can be streamed on Spotify, or purchased at Bearstronaut.com
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