Now here is a new alternative rock band to get excited about! For a genre that prides itself on its high energy, these days it all too often feels stale and uninspired. Sunderland based band The Firelight Opera bring something new to the scene with their debut single ‘Alive’, taken from their upcoming album Communication Breakdown out 29th May. What sets them apart is the fact that four of the band members share lead vocal duties, bringing a refreshing dynamic into the mix. Though the intertwining vocal melodies often steal the show, the track also boasts plenty of soaring guitar work and a profoundly though provoking music video. Put all that together and you find yourself listening to the ideal alternative anthem from one of the most promising new bands on the scene.
Top Tracks: Rachel Jane – Waiting For A Change
I’m fairly sure “badass” isn’t a technical term, however there’s no denying that it perfectly encapsulates the new track from singer/songwriter Rachel Jane. ‘Waiting For A Change’, taken from her upcoming second EP The Mountain due in July, is an evocative anthem full of drive and conviction. With riffs akin to AM era Arctic Monkeys, Rachel sings with the spirit of someone beaten down by the world, only for each blow to further fan the flames of her inner strength. If you need a song to spur you forth to break the chains holding you back and step out into the world as through it was yours for the taking, then this is it, no question. Rachel Jane is definitely a name to look out for at this summer’s festivals.
Top Tracks: Lucy & La Mer – Honey, Put Your Weapons Down
I often find myself drawn to songs with something different or unique to offer, and that’s just what I discovered upon first hearing the new single from LA based singer/songwriter Lucy LaForge. ‘Honey, Put You Weapons Down’ combines a simple, albeit off-kilter melody with soaring strings to produce a curious folk pop hit. It has all the hooks and slick production to appeal to pop fans, but also brings together the kind of musicality and eccentricity that indie folk fans are sure to love. Lyrically the track speaks of the need for that special spark with a relationship, that if it’s meant to be it should feel relaxed and natural rather than an uphill battle. On this song Lucy has created an innovative and modern pop sound that is well ahead of the curve.
Interview: Levy & The Oaks
Hailing from Asbury Park, New Jersey, Levy & The Oaks bring together classic, homegrown folk and Americana, with nuanced pop production and accessibility to create a sound that is entirely their own. After releasing their eponymous debut just last year, the band have wasted no time in releasing their new unplugged EP Out Of The Blue. The sparse arrangements on offer within have breathed new life into the tracks. I chatted to Lou Panico about Levy & The Oaks’ latest acoustic adventures ahead of the upcoming EP: Continue reading
Live Review: Ophelia, The Greystones Sheffield, 7th May 2017
Mighty oaks from little acorns grow, and likewise all great acts have to start somewhere. Belwood is all about supporting new music, and transatlantic duo Samuel Taylor and Rebecca Van Cleave are one of the most exciting musical projects the site has supported thus far. Blending classic Americana with modern English folk, and with plenty of addictive indie pop hooks for good measure, Ophelia’s music has something to offer everyone. Having just released their debut single, I caught them at their homecoming gig at the lovely Greystones in Sheffield for the final stop of their Vagabond Tour. Continue reading
Spotlight!: Goodwood Atoms
Photo by Katrin Braga
Though the music world is dominated by the US and the UK, Canada has been growing ever closer to reaching that level. The Great White North has become a real dark horse, and it is bands such as Goodwood Atoms that are leading the charge. With their latest EP The Place they have crafted a fascinating musical voyage. Listening to it is like drifting along in the jetstream; a sense of calm while a vast and bountiful world races past you. ‘Dreaming About’ kicks off with electronic beats and swelling synths before launching into a bass driven indie rock number reminiscent of Arcade Fire. ‘Tech Know’ sees the band at their most eclectic, crafting a moving atmosphere and populating it with intricate acoustic riffs and powerful drum patterns. ‘Into The Bay’ sees Goodwood Atoms further embracing electronica and injecting an all too often cold and reserved genre with some much needed fire, while the mellow acoustic closing track ‘Place’ has hints of Fleet Foxes and early Bon Iver. The band have released one of the strongest EPs of the year, exhibiting a high standard that few full albums have even been able to match, never mind maintain it for the duration.
Goodwood Atoms new EP The Place is out 12th May, and is perfect for fans of Radiohead, Anathema, Sigur Ros and Fleet Foxes
Unnecessary Albums: The rise of deluxe editions
You all know the type; once an album has been released the record label will keep flogging it for every penny it’s worth. In today’s modern music industry, during what is probably the most unpredictable time since it’s inception, the business side of things plays a bigger role than ever before. With streaming becoming the dominant form of music consumption, but offering little in terms of monetary rewards, labels have to go to greater lengths to try and push sales for physical copies of albums. One of the biggest, and most irritating ways that they do this is by releasing “deluxe editions”, packed to the brim with content that, if we’re honest, no one asked for. Continue reading
Top Tracks: VŌS – Patience
If you are a fan of mellow and mesmerising electropop then I have one hell of a treat for you, as the debut single from new London duo VŌS is right up your street. Crafting a sound somewhere between James Blake and Oh Wonder, ‘Patience’ is a simple and effective first foray for this promising pair. Created around understated electronica, where each note is polished to perfection, everything is in its place, and not one unnecessary element crops up to muddy the waters. It’s a seamless single, so finely formed that it could have been expertly crafted from blown glass. Electropop is very “in” right now, and even so, there are few examples that match ‘Patience’ for sheer class and elegance.
Top Tracks: Dia – Synchronized Swimming
Trained as an opera singer, songwriter and composer Dia’s latest musical venture sees her exploring a sound that is very different from her origins, but just as beautiful. Danielle Birrittella, under her moniker Dia, has gathered together the necessary elements for an ethereal baroque pop soundscape on her travels throughout the US and Europe. ‘Synchronized Swimming’, taken from her debut EP Tiny Ocean, calls to mind acts such as Lana Del Rey and The Last Shadow Puppets. With its curious rhythms, lush guitar tones and gorgeous melodies, it is a song perfectly matched for bittersweet sunsets and summer daydreams on the beach. The track strikes a peculiar balance between the classic 50s sound and 90s alternative, with the end result surrounding you with its hypnotic haze.
Top Tracks: Julian Fulton – Rosie’s Disposition
Eclectic New Jersey based singer/songwriter Julian Fulton is back with his latest single. ‘Rosie’s Disposition’ is taken from his upcoming EP Battered Receptions out 12th May, and the proceeds from pre-orders going towards the ACLU. This latest offering kick-starts with a frenetic stream of consciousness style lyricism, before delving into a world of bright, upbeat indie riffs and big memorable hooks. Yet again Julian has proven his adeptness for blurring the lines between genres. A brief break within the track features some delicate acoustic guitar and atmospheric choral harmonies, while the closing moments briefly showcase the kind of whimsical psychedelica you’d expect to find on Sgt. Pepper. Like his previous track ‘Howl‘, ‘Rosie’s Disposition’ is the product of a wildly imaginative mind, of someone who loves and revels in all forms of music, and it is perfect for those souls of a similar nature.
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