I can’t remember the last time I heard a song that was so calming and yet so chaotic at the same time. With this new track from Orlando based project Cathedral Bells you have hazy dream pop soundscapes and airy vocal melodies, as well as an animated post punk bass line driving the song forward alongside a frantic tortured guitar tone. Each side is simultaneously vying for your attention, while somehow blending together perfectly. Even if you were to dissect this track into its constituent parts you would still be left with a couple of great songs, but as a whole it just connects with you on so many levels. Hypnotic and hard-hitting, ‘A Passing Phase’ is far more than its namesake, making a real lasting impression, ready to rise to the occasion no matter what mood strikes you.
Top Tracks: Flo – Set In Stone
One of the few things that is certain in life is that almost nothing is certain. We seem to spend more of our lives worrying about what’s to come than appreciating what is going on around us right now. Today is a gift – it is called the present after all – and it’s only here once, so why not make the most of it? ‘Set In Stone’, the new single from Belwood favourite Flo, is all about trying to live in the moment as you can’t count on the future to live up to all your expectations. The track boasts a delightfully dreamy vibe as though each note has been drawn-out to give you chance to truly savour it. The bittersweet music video also explores the song’s message beautifully, as two friends spend their final night together. I particularly love how scarcely a word passes between them; there’s no sharing of past regrets or fears for the future, just silent reverie as they cherish each other’s presence.
Spotlight!: la.nskey
Art is a balance between positive and negative, not just about what you create but also about what you leave untouched. Shadows you cast are just as important as the light that forms them, and fine details are best appreciated in context to the empty space around them. In music however that balance is particularly difficult, as you try to imbue meaning into moments of quiet. la.nskey has the required light touch to make such a minimalist mosaic come to life. Having already impressed us with her work with Belwood favourites The Last Dinosaur, bringing such gorgeous and elegant strings to the mix, her solo work makes something from nothing like some incorporeal projection dancing in the mist. ‘Agnes’ features the barest whispers of piano, so light and airy you almost feel like you dreamt them, and the vocals on ‘Yours’ hang on like the final tendrils of a fading memory. I’m generally a sceptic of electronic music, but they set such a curious atmosphere on ‘Nostalgia’, and work so well alongside the more organic elements on ‘Little Lamb’, that I can’t help but make an exception. This EP (best enjoyed as a whole) is like some auditory illusion; its gentle ambient nature means it so easily fades into the background, but when you catch yourself paying closer attention to it suddenly it’s like there’s nothing else but you, the music, and the spaces in-between.
Fans of The Last Dinosaur, Daughter, Keaton Henson and modern Radiohead should check out la.nskey’s Third EP
Top Tracks: Arctic Lake – Sight Of You
After making such an affecting impression when I caught them at Barn on the Farm this summer, obviously I jumped on the chance to hear more from them when this track appeared in my inbox. Taken from the London trio’s new EP What You May Find, ‘Sight Of You’ showcases that had me so enraptured when I saw them live. Emma Foster’s crystal clear vocals are simply faultless, and the understated instrumentation makes the empty space as much a part of the song as the notes themselves, creating an almost tangible atmosphere. The whole track is like a figure bathed in white light emerging from the fog, somehow both hazy and refined all at once. This ambient indie pop outfit are definitely one to watch!
Top Tracks: Carmen Brandy – Good Enough
One of the biggest pitfalls of modern life is the propensity to compare ourselves to others. It’s something that we all do; we all dwell on what we lack rather than what we have, overthink our flaws and care too much about those that don’t care about us, rather than appreciating those that love us and love ourselves in turn. The funny things is you can look at someone and ponder on all the ways their life is better, and odds are they are looking back thinking the exact same thing. Nashville based singer/songwriter Carmen Brandy has summed up this universal feeling wonderfully in her new song ‘Good Enough’. The hazy Americana vibes are overlain with gorgeous mesmeric melodies and the accompanying video boasts a warm vintage glow and some stunning cinematography. As much as other people can bring us down, we’re often our own harshest critics, and ‘Good Enough’ reminds us that we are more than worthy if we just have a little faith in ourselves.
Top Tracks: Blonde Roses – Hush Now
I think we can all agree the world is in a sorry state of affairs right now. While a large part of that is down to very real and scary problems, part of it is down to how we view the world. Innocence and naivety fades and we no longer see the world through rose-tinted lenses. We start seeing the injustices, we begin to realise that common decency isn’t all that common after all, and it dawns on us we’re all just as lost and confused as each other, no one really knows what they’re doing. That heavy feeling of realisation is summed up brilliantly in this new single from New Orleans outfit Blonde Roses. As well as boasting a visually stunning video, ‘Hush Now’ builds from a gentle start to a cacophonous crescendo that wonderfully captures how we’re dropped into world far darker than it first appears.
Temple Sessions: Joe Russell-Brown
We have another awesome acoustic session to share with you! The brilliant Joe Russell-Brown joined us for a special stripped back version of his new song ‘Black Lung’. Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel for more from Joe, and plenty more live music to come.
Top Tracks: Stray Fossa – Miss The Darker Nights
I think all of us that grow up in the countryside have longing for city life somewhere deep down. The bright lights, the hustle and bustle, all the fresh ideas and interesting people, being a part of something greater than yourself. There are a million songs about hectic city life, but so few deal with the eventual burnout that comes to everyone at some point. A sensory overload hits sooner or later, and you suddenly see the lure of the quiet life you left behind and took for granted for so long. ‘Miss The Darker Nights’ captures that feeling perfectly. Boasting dreamy synths and wonderfully expressive bass tones, Stray Fossa’s new single is the kind of song you can just get lost in. Let it bring the captivating calm of the quiet life straight to you, soothing even the most frayed of nerves in the most madcap cityscapes.
Top Tracks: Evening Darling – Schuyler Street
Belwood favourites Evening Darling are back with a brand new single. ‘Schuyler Street’ offers a new and refreshing twist, while still keeping the same endearing charm that made the finer points of last year’s eponymous debut album so unforgettable. Combining their finely crafted, hook-driven Americana with a dash of bright and airy synths, this latest offering is reminiscent of the more introspective side of The Killers. ‘Schuyler Street’ is made for late night drives, starlit scenes, and those moments where you can just get lost in silence with someone special. With an overall more mature and understated approach, and melodies that remind me of The National’s ‘Graceless’, it seems Evening Darling still have plenty of tricks up their sleeve. Roll on album number two!
Steve Perry – Traces
Belwood Music 