The Lunar Year – Herodias
Indie Rock | Americana | Folk
77%
Top Tracks: Mr Byrd – I’ll Never Let Go
Raised in Alabama, and now based in Nashville, singer/songwriter Jeremy Byrd has released his latest stirring single. ‘I’ll Never Let You Go’, taken from his upcoming debut EP Steel Cold Train out 9th June, begins with a gentle rise and fall like the ebb and flow of the tide, but soon builds into something powerful and angelic. Somehow Byrd has made a song with a profound sense of longing, that also ends up being heart-warmingly uplifting. What we have here is a folk artist with a whole lot of soul. With a rich, soothing sound, and plenty of sincerity and charm to boot, Byrd has crafted the musical equivalent of a lovely cup of tea on a cold winter’s morning; good for the soul and able to make the world seem so much more at ease.
Spotlight!: From Apes To Angels
The days of the dynamic duo are upon us, and this pair hailing from London and Sheffield respectively are a welcome new addition to the fold. With their debut EP, rising synthpop stars Millie Gaum and Andrew Brassleay have merged retro 80s synths, futuristic electronica and polished pop production to create a sound that is very much the ‘in’ thing and is sure to find legions of new fans in no time. ‘New Skin’ bears all the hallmarks of Chvrches with its crowd-pleasing melodies and big, bold percussion. The quirky ‘Gift Tag’, with its driving rhythm and infectious chorus, is reminiscent of Grimes. The intro of ‘Together’ sounds like the lovechild of Lana Del Rey and the Stranger Things soundtrack, while ‘Eternity’ sounds like some robotic lullaby from the distant future. From Apes To Angels have a synth sound that is up there with the best of them, and with this assured and accessible first release they seem set to go from strength to strength.
If you’re a fan of Chvrches, Grimes, LANY and Hurts, then their upcoming EP New Skin, out 24th July, is sure to be right up your street.
Top Tracks: Beachwood Coyotes – Face To Face
Inspired by a bizarre and ill-advised acid trip, LA based band Beachwood Coyotes have some killer new music on the way. ‘Face To Face’, the first single from their upcoming EP Scrubby, has all the necessary elements for a bona fide indie anthem. With it’s driving rhythm, uplifting harmonies, crystal clear guitar riffs and plenty of attention grabbing hooks, the Beachwood boys appear to be onto something! It’s a track that very much exceeded my expectations, and at times reminded me of The Gaslight Anthem and early Amber Run. ‘Face To Face’ is up there with the best indie releases of the year. With a few more hits like this to their name Beachwood Coyotes could well be one to watch.
Album Review: The Amazons – The Amazons
The Amazons – The AmazonsGregg Allman passes away
Southern rock trailblazer Gregg Allman has sadly passed away aged 69 due to complications arising from liver cancer. Gregg was the singer, keyboardist and primary songwriter of The Allman Brothers Band, alongside his brother Duane who sadly died of a motorcycle crash in 1971. With such tracks as ‘Whipping Post’, ‘Midnight Rider’ and ‘Jessica’ (better known as the Top Gear theme), Gregg was a key figure in popularising the southern rock sound in the late 60s and early 70s, and remained active in the scene until his death. The Allman Brothers are perhaps best known for their album At Fillmore East, often described as being amongst the greatest live albums ever recorded. He was a deeply influential figure in rock music and will be sorely missed.
Top Tracks: 99 Trees – Broken
Multi-instrumentalist and producer Axel Concato, and Danish born singer Pia Blixen have joined forces for this new project under the moniker 99 Trees. ‘Broken’, from their upcoming EP 21st Century out 23rd June, is the first single from this Paris-based duo. Combining psychedelic 60s soundscapes with modern pop hooks, the track has bags of charm. It’s many quirky elements are reminiscent of everything from Bowie’s ‘Ashes To Ashes’ and Pet Sounds era Beach Boys, to Jefferson Airplane’s ‘White Rabbit’, albeit polished with a more contemporary radio-friendly sheen. Walking the line between experimental and accessible is no mean feat, but 99 Trees have pulled it off. ‘Broken’ is a great taste of what’s to come and leaves you wanting more from this promising pair.
Album Review: James Vincent McMorrow – True Care
James Vincent McMorrow – True CareTop Tracks: Lejon – If
The new single from this London-based electropop duo offers a delightfully retro 80s twist to the increasingly popular synth-driven scene. Laurence Jepson and Charlie Dale mix in tried and tested futuristic synth sounds with hints of everyone from Bastille and James Vincent McMorrow, to Belwood Award winner Rationale. The production here is immaculate and the track boasts a passionate vocal delivery that is streets ahead of most acts in the scene. It’s the kind of song that will appeal to fans of the mainstream and the underground alike; a rare and fascinating place to be. Lejon offer a glimpse into their vast potential with ‘If’, and depending on where they go next they may well lead the genre to exciting new places with future releases.
Top Tracks: Night Click – The Drug Store Ceiling
‘The Drug Store Ceiling’, the title track from Night Click’s upcoming debut album out 21st July, plays like an amalgamation of two classic American sounds. A New Jersey native, songwriter Michael Klics relocated to LA to perform under his new moniker. His music carries with it the legacy of two incredibly important places of musical heritage, each on opposite sides of the country. ‘The Drug Store Ceiling’ combines the radio friendly harmonies and sun-drenched psychedelica of the classic Californian sound, with a bold brass section and Springsteen-esque Americana vibes. It’s a winning combination, and as such this track simply oozes charm with each new listen. Night Click has released a very promising first single and I look forward to hearing how his sublime sound develops from here.
Belwood Music 