This Dublin born singer/songwriter, having already made waves in her native Ireland, seems set to carve out a path towards international acclaim. With her new upcoming EP, Ailbhe Reddy crafts a curious amalgamation of styles. Attach To Memory combines elements of folk, indie and electropop; all underpinned by her unique vocals, recalling everyone from Lianne La Havas and The Cranberries, to Daughter and Feist. Indie rocker ‘Fingertips’ takes a frank look at female sexuality and boasts a curiously addictive chorus, while the folky beginnings of ‘Never Loved’ conjure up an image of falling leaves in some picturesque city park. ‘Disconnect’ builds towards a climactic wall of sound and the genre-hopping ‘Loose’ sees Ailbhe’s voice at it’s very best, shifting from psychedelic soul to beat driven pop perfection. There are a thousand tiny elements within the music that I could trace back, but all together they create a sound that is truly one of a kind. Following on from the success of her first release Hollowed Out Sea, Ailbhe Reddy has kicked it up a few notches and seems sure to reach even greater heights with furture releases. The sky is the limit.
Fans of Feist, Daughter, Lanterns On The Lake and Lianne La Havas should check out her latest EP Attach To Memory out 24th May
Having sang in choirs and learned to play cello from an early age, London-based singer/songwriter Rebecca Raw channels her classical inspirations into a captivating contemporary sound. Her debut EP Deep Within maintains an emotive air of spirituality that persists throughout as she explores ethereal folk and uplifting indie pop. The EP’s signature song ‘Connection’ speaks of longing for deeper and more meaningful relationships rather than the all too often fleeting and emotionless interactions of the modern world. The acapella driven ‘Dust and Ashes’ sees Rebecca’s songwriting at it’s most curious and experimental, while ‘Freefall’ brings together modern indie pop with 80s power ballad vibes. Rebecca’s finest hour however is the aptly titled ‘Whisper Thin’, crafted around little more than a delicate piano and her own angelic vocals to produce one of the most breathtaking musical moments of the year. Rebecca Raw has produced a technically faultless and stylistically interesting first release, but far more important than that she has gifted the world with something that connects with you deep down; a quality all the more rare and precious.
It’s important within a band to have a strong bond, a deep connection of spirit and a sharing of ideas. It’s always been said that blood is thicker than water and few acts work in such perfect harmony as Miccoli, composed of twin brothers Alex and Adriano, and their sister Francesca. Weaving their voices together to craft a spellbinding display, an angelic chorus so rarely found in indie pop, they have produced one of the most promising EPs of the year. ‘Idle Stranger’ is a late night anthem to lead the way when you find yourself lost in life, while the slow burning ‘Undo’ show Miccoli’s ethereal harmonies at their best. The suitably bright and uplifting ‘Lights’ is a finely crafted hit in the making and the stripped back ‘Devices’ builds an intricate and fragile cathedral of sound from the sparsest of arrangements. This band of siblings have a clear idea of who they want to be, and if they carry on the legacy of their first EP then they are sure to win over new fans everywhere they go.
Ipswich born alternative rockers In My Disguise are more than they appear. If you’re looking for straight shooting, no-nonsense riffs then you’re in luck, but if you’re also one to dig deeper for those little subtleties then there is plenty here for you to enjoy. Either way, they can provide exactly what you’re looking for. With their debut EP Achromatic the band have picked up the mantle left by post-grunge bands of the late nineties and early noughties. ‘Alive’ boasts a heavy groove and a wondrous melodic bass interlude, while ‘Fear’ is at times reminiscent of Tool’s ‘Sober’ and shows the band at their lyrical peak. ‘Scattered Memories’ features some blistering guitar work to bring the EP to a close and the stripped back ‘Story’, the band’s best work thus far, shows a different side to In My Disguise. It makes a great change of pace and shows the kind of range the band have to offer. In My Disguise have made an assured start to their career with their first release and have secured a place as one of the most promising new bands on the scene.
Treading the line between the bright, upbeat melodies of indie rock, and the dark, determined vigour of alternative rock, we find Cambridgeshire based singer/songwriter Tom Lumley. With his debut EP he has carved out his own place, and is set to make his presence known in this hectic and overcrowded scene with his latest tracks. ‘Running From Our Lives’ builds from bluesy beginnings, into the kind of vivid melodies, driving rhythms and frantic solos that put bands like Holy Holy on our radar. ‘Tonight’ has the ideal riffs to get your blood pumping, the jaunty ‘Done My Time’ plays around with a laidback, summery vibe and ‘Open Your Eyes’ features some of the finest guitar work to be found anywhere in the UK’s indie scene right now. Tom still has a way to go, but these tracks still make a damn good first impression. In Tom Lumley we find an artist with a wealth of talent just awaiting that spark, that secret ingredient that will give him the edge and make as many people as possible sit up and pay attention. We have here a real diamond in the rough, and I for one can’t wait to see him shine.
Belwood Music 