If you were to capture the carefree joy of youth on a warm summer’s day within a single song, this would be a damn close fit. This three-piece have combined the upbeat vibes of 60s California surf rock with the jangly guitar of iconic noughties indie bands such as The Strokes. Like the gorgeous musical lovechild of The Byrds and The Libertines, ‘Walking Around Perfectly’ is the pick-me-up you need on those dreary days. Taken from their upcoming eponymous debut EP, out 10th March, this track is the perfect excuse to kick back and just enjoy life for while. It’s the warm vintage sound of days gone by. Make a note of this one, when summer eventually finds its way here this will be the ideal anthem for every occasion.
Album Review: Patch & The Giant – All That We Had, We Stole
Patch & The Giant – All That We Had, We StoleAlbum Review: Johnnyswim – Georgica Pond
Johnnyswim – Georgica PondAlbum Review: The Flaming Lips – Oczy Mlody
The Flaming Lips – Oczy MlodySpotlight!: Maximum High
The music world generally revolves around the output from the US and UK, so it comes as a pleasant surprise when you stumble across a band from elsewhere in the world; especially when they are at the kind of high standard as Greece’s own Maximum High. Playing around with the classic hard rock formula, all four band members put in a slick and confident performance. ‘Control My Love’ features some fantastic funky bass tones and the guitar work on ‘Don’t Let Me Down’ effortlessly shifts from furious solos to understated atmospheric interludes. The dependable drum work really grabs your attention on ‘Long Ago’ and frontwoman Irene Dimopoulou’s superb soulful vocals really make Maximum High stand out from the crowd. This is a band that blew my expectations out of the water, working together like a well oiled machine to produce a perfect example of what rock is all about. I just hope with the right exposure they can get their message out to the masses and get some rightly earned recognition for their dynamic debut release.
Fans of Rival Sons, The Answer and Saint Jude should check out their eponymous debut EP
Album Review: Dearly Beloved – Admission
Dearly Beloved – AdmissionTop Tracks: Baum Jr – The Sunset & The Coalpit/Foundations
Baum Jr is back with another double A side, ready to blur the line between retro and futuristic with his own brand of ‘Next-Gen 8-Bit’. Few acts can take a genre known for crystal clear precision and inject such raw emotion like that found in the latter half of ‘The Sunset & The Coalpit’. What starts as a synth laden journey through a cyberpunk world, with some bombastic drums thrown in for good measure, soon can no longer contain the rising tension. The passion in the vocals at the climax of the track manages to outshine the technical wizardry at work. The stripped back re-imagining of ‘Foundations’ by London punk quartet Apologies, I Have None further shows off his vocals and delves deeper into the man behind the machinery. It’s these moments that make Baum Jr stand out; the loving heart beating beneath the electronic exterior.
Interview: Taylor Noelle
Born and raised in L.A., before bringing her talents to the music city of Nashville, Taylor Noelle is one of the most talented and versatile artists to emerge in the past year. Her debut EP Out of My System is an absolute gem, with each track showcasing a different style and a different side to her personality, all coming together as one multifaceted marvel. I caught up with this purveyor of pop perfection ahead of her first ever trip to the UK:
Top Tracks: Joshua Luke Smith – Heart of Man
This incredibly insightful wordsmith is easily one of the most well spoken and kind-hearted people in music. He has already caught our attention with his spoken word song for World Suicide Prevention Day, as well releasing a collaborative track for World Aids Day. His latest endeavour ‘Heart of Man’ sends a simple message; be the change you want to see in the world. We cannot drive out the hate and misery that plague the world by fighting back with more of the same, we need to all look within our hearts and only in bettering ourselves can we hope to make a better world. All proceeds from downloads and streams will be donated towards the work of the Preemptive Love Coalition. Looking back at the past year I feel we need more people like Joshua Luke Smith in the world, but perhaps all we need to do is to take his message to heart and take inspiration from his love and compassion.
Spotlight!: D E C O R U M
I’m always on the lookout for fresh ideas, a trait that is becoming increasingly rare in modern music. One of the most intriguing new bands of the decade thus far has been Royal Blood thanks to their unique combination of just bass and drums and just a dash of technical wizardry. However this Brooklyn based band have gone one better and have thrown another bassist into the mix to create a fascinating interplay of sounds. The broody atmosphere is as much built around the empty spaces as it is around the dramatic bass tones, hypnotic rhythms and the trance-like vocals. There’s no denying that the end result sounds greater than the sum of its parts and portrays a grand, yet dark vignette. Their labyrinthine post punk is equal parts menacing and mournful as it pierces its way through the dense haze. The band themselves have an air of mystery around them to match their enigmatic gothic horror soundscapes. They have thus far maintained their veil of secrecy so that only the lucky few have been able to delve into their world, a lucky few that you should be a part of.
Fans of Joy Division, Preoccupations, Nick Cave and Algiers should check out their website.
Belwood Music 