music

Spotlight!: Banana High

/ James Fenney

banana-highOne of the best ways to become a truly influential and captivating band is to master a wide range of styles and genres and flick between them with the greatest of ease. As you can imagine that is a lot easier said than done, but Banana High are certainly on the right track. Their music is the curious lovechild of ska and post-hardcore, combining two very different genres to create something truly unique. The reggae infused tracks like ‘Little Time Away’ and ‘People Make Money (Make The World Go Round)’ have an irresistibly danceable groove and the band’s aesthetic is full of carefree fun. Songs like ‘Still In Disguise’ with it’s gritty yet slick harmonies and ‘All That We Are’ with it’s complex rhythms showcase the band’s darker side. On paper this combination shouldn’t work but yet here we are! It certainly helps matters that the band show a very high standard of musicianship, particularly the virtuoso guitar work that in places has subtle hints of flamenco. With a second EP on the way later this year we can all look forward to more of Banana High’s fascinating musical fusion.

Fans of The Specials, Lonely The Brave, Madness and Mallory Knox should check out their debut EP Join The Evolution.

Top Tracks: Amére – Young Love

/ James Fenney

Hailing from south Wales this quartet have combined two very different elements to create something truly unique. Equal parts mellow ambient sounds and in-your-face emo have resulted in an intriguing display of light and shade. The curious combination will surely be loved by people on both sides of the equation. Lyrically their debut single ‘Young Love’ deals with the fickle and fragile nature of relationships in our youth. It speaks of the guilt of hurting someone who once meant the world to you and of a love that was once so strong slowly fading away. Exploring both peaceful soundscapes and raw frantic emotion, and doing so with plenty of heart and adept storytelling, Amére’s fanbase is surely set to skyrocket.

Spotlight!: Hidden Charms

/ James Fenney

hidden-charmsThis south London quartet are quite possibly one of the most suave new bands in years. Oozing the kind of effortless cool that most people can only dream of they have tapped in to something that is simultaneously old at heart and invigoratingly refreshing. Tracks such as ‘Dreaming of Another Girl’ harks back to 60s mod legends such as The Who and The Kinks and ‘Long Way Down’ sounds like the curious offspring of The Doors and The Beach Boys. The fuzzy blues stomp of tracks such as ‘Love You ‘Cause You’re There’ fits perfectly alongside garage rock gods The White Stripes and The Black Keys. The fact that Vincent Davies and Ranald MacDonald share vocal duties throws an intriguing dynamic into the mix and thus far the artwork for their singles is nothing short of stunning. An all around feast for the senses Hidden Charms have a fair deal of flair and more than enough talent to back it up. This band are the missing piece of the puzzle that will fill a gap in your life that you never knew existed till now.

Fans of Jack White, Arctic Monkeys and Blossoms should keep an eye out for their debut EP Harder From Here out 21st October

Top Tracks: Gabriel Wolfchild & The Northern Light – Runaways

/ James Fenney

Though he boasts a name that wouldn’t sound amiss in a fantasy epic, Gabriel is better known for turning heads (and chairs) thanks to his arresting vocals and poetic storytelling. Finding himself in the limelight after his successful audition on The Voice US, he soon found like-minded people eager to create who would become his backing band The Northern Light. The ethereal folk that Gabriel creates has a feeling of celebration of all the beauty and inspiration that life brings. His latest track ‘Runaways’ talks of how we are all connected and how even small gifts of love and kindness can change the world. His debut EP Mornings Like These is set for release early next year and is sure to be filled with more masterful moments of hauntingly beautiful reflection.

Top Tracks: Liz Loughrey – Rise Up!

/ James Fenney

This Toronto based singer has worked hard to create something that the world needs more of. The first single from her upcoming EP, ‘Rise Up!’ is a pop hit with plenty of tricks up it’s sleeve. With plenty of soul, an uplifting infusion of reggae, an emotive video and a great deal of heart and passion in her lyrics it’s easy to see why Liz has such a following. What truly sets this song apart however is the movement behind it. It is a call to arms for people to work together to bring some positivity into their lives and make an impact in their community. To that end Liz has been hosting school workshops to encourage young people to make a change for the better and has been inviting people to join in on social media with the #RiseUpMovement hashtag.

Top Tracks: The Only Ocean – So Shy So High

/ James Fenney

Just recently we have been blessed by the return of dream pop to delight our ears with it’s hazy goodness. It’s the kind of music that’s the perfect soundtrack for quiet reflection, for letting your consciousness disappear into the ether, for feeling like you’re part of a whole different wondrous world. It’s also the kind of music that this California four piece have perfected with their latest single. Having released their atmospheric eponymous debut just last year, The Only Ocean are eager to share more of their music with the world with their forthcoming EP TOO. If this first single, which combines airy dream pop with anthemic indie, and the intriguing artwork are anything to go by then it’s definitely something worth checking out.