I defy you to find a more upbeat and joyful track released this year than ‘Falling’. This latest single from Oklahoma based indie pop trio Cavern Company is like a radiant beacon of positive energy, abuzz with effervescent melodies and guilt-free pop sensibilities. The band citing Chic as their biggest influence goes a long way in explaining the potency of the infectious danceable groove, and the bright indie aesthetic at work on this track is sure to be a hit with fans of The 1975 and Clean Cut Kid. “Pop” music gets a bad rep, which is often self-inflicted, but it’s songs like this that remind you just how invigorating good pop music can be. Assuredly innocent and endearing as it captures the feeling of a new love blossoming, the distilled euphoria of ‘Falling’ makes it one of the most charming and accessible tracks of 2018.
top tracks
Top Tracks: The Tin Pigeons – Always The Same
All you need is a few bright and upbeat guitar riffs and you pretty much have yourself an indie song. To make a great indie song though you need to throw a few other elements into the crucible in the hope of forming something that feels special. The Tin Pigeons have done just that on their new single ‘Always The Same’. The infectious groove that permeates the whole track, paired with the multitude of memorable hooks, just makes you feel ready to lose your inhibitions and let the music move through you. Speaking of a longing to break free and find some meaning and purpose, to which we can all relate, ‘Always The Same’ manages the rare feat of being a fun song with real meaning. The Tin Pigeons have imbued their own unique charm into this track, and this is one festival anthem that is sure to get crowds whipped up into a feel-good frenzy.
Top Tracks: .imp – Lifedreamer
‘Lifedreamer’ is a tale of two halves. This latest single from London-based artist James Hargreaves, aka .imp, opens with a bright and airy psychedelic sound that’s simply bursting with life and pulsates like some mystical aura. The hectic skittering drum beat may seem at odds with the otherwise dreamy atmosphere, but somehow the two elements really work well together. If you thought the opening of ‘Lifedreamer’ was vibrant then you’re in for a real treat when the triumphant horn sounds kick in. This uplifting section rings out like some hero’s welcome while ascending Olympus. The drums shift to keep pace, providing some of the best damn percussion I’ve heard all year, before the euphoric climax gives way to the final ethereal fade-out. It may have been written on morphine while recovering from surgery, but that’s nothing compared to the high that the song itself makes you feel.
Top Tracks: Natalie Shay – Perfume
One of the UK’s most promising new talents, the brilliant Natalie Shay is back with a brand new single. ‘Perfume’ sees the rising star embrace a bold new direction. Trading the bright indie riffs and bombastic drums of her debut single ‘This Feeling‘ for some dreamy synths and retro 80s vibes, this new track is an immaculate indie pop delight. With its flawless production and infectious melodies, it seems Natalie is on to a winner yet again. For all artists, new ones especially, it is a risky move to change-up your sound when you’ve already found a formula that works. The fact that Natalie has pulled it off so well with ‘Perfume’ just further shows why this exciting and eclectic artist will surely be a big name in the not too distant future. This stylish synthpop anthem is nothing like what I was expecting, which just makes me all the more eager to see what comes next.
Top Tracks: Persona – Indie Cowboy
You don’t get as many crossovers between indie and alternative rock as you might expect. While hardly polar opposites, the two styles do have enough differences to make finding the right balance a tricky task. Anyone hoping to walk that line should look no further than New York’s own Persona for inspiration. Their new single ‘Indie Cowboy’ seamlessly combines the bright riffs and melodic hooks of the indie scene, with the frenetic drums and raw, impassioned vocals that make alt rock so compelling. A potent reminder to look beyond the division and see the humanity in everyone, this latest single is a promising sign that the band are on to a winning formula. Persona know how to get you feeling fired up, giving you their all on this new track, and with that in mind it seems that their next EP will definitely be one to look out for.
Top Tracks: The Rareflowers – Shake
The more you listen to ‘Shake’ the more you start to uncover. This track from New Jersey based trio The Rareflowers, taken from their eponymous debut EP out 29th June, plays almost like a microcosm of American music. The opening few seconds of bass sound like the start of some melancholy alternative track from the 90s before the bright jangly guitar kicks in like some spark igniting. With hints of classic 60s surf rock, a mellow psychedelic breakdown, and plenty of that indescribable heartland charm, The Rareflowers are in full bloom with this sun-drenched new single. All across America you find different iconic sounds and unique musical heritages as you go. In ‘Shake’ there is a sense of the familiar. No matter where you may find yourself you can play this eclectic song and people will find something they can connect with. This is a taste of the many flavours of the States, bottled and ready to go.
Top Tracks: Maple & Rye – Only Hope
I’ve been nothing but impressed by the new music I’ve heard from Swedish artists over the past couple of years, and this latest single from Gothenburg’s Maple & Rye is no exception. Channelling the anthemic folk pedigree of Mumford & Sons and The Lumineers, ‘Only Hope’ is the kind of song that’s made for sharing, the kind made for bellowing out the chorus arm in arm with your friends. The uplifting melodies drift around like blossom on the breeze, while the lyrics tell of that one person who brings joy and stability to your life when all else seems to be crashing down. It is a heartwarming reminder that we’re stronger together, and with our friends by our side we can weather any storm. This festival ready hit is just the summer anthem your playlist has been missing. Just grab a friend, play it loud, and go make some memories.
Top Tracks: Bent Knee – Paper Earth
I’m rather stretching the definition of Top Tracks here, as ‘Paper Earth’ is longer than most EPs, but a piece of music this extraordinary couldn’t just be passed by without mention. Performed with the Boston Conservatory Percussion Ensemble, this half hour, 6-part epic about how our memories affect the present is every bit as inventive and otherworldly as you’d expect from ambitious art rockers Bent Knee. These Belwood favourites have really outdone themselves with this new project, rivalling Tubular Bells in both scope and execution with this classical inspired progressive masterclass. Displaying the full range of their talents, and bolstered by the unique percussion at work, this magnum opus of theirs just serves to secure their place in my mind as one of the most innovative and exciting bands out there at the moment. ‘Paper Earth’ is a singular experience, one that I can’t recommend enough.
Top Tracks: Caleb Kopta – Burning House
If it wasn’t for the difference in vocals, you could almost just close your eyes and get lost in ‘Burning House’ and be left thinking that it was a new track from Ryan Adams. Occupying that same perfect balance between honest, heartwarming Americana and expansive, ethereal indie rock, Pennsylvania based singer/songwriter Caleb Kopta simply excels with this new single. With its infectious hook, gorgeous melodies and lush instrumentation, this track is a must-hear for fans of The Killers, The War On Drugs and Matthew and the Atlas. Superbly well-crafted and effortlessly cool, this latest release following his debut EP Ghost seems set to be one of the standout singles of the summer. In ‘Burning House’ we find the embers of greatness all set to catch given the right opportunity. Caleb Kopta has hit upon a winning formula with this track, and if he can keep it up he’ll be a real one-to-watch very soon.
Top Tracks: Brightwood Patriarch – Bow + Arrow
One of the best ways to discover new music in recent years has been through TV. Sometimes the most unassuming of shows can be harbouring hidden gems from up-and-coming artists. Soundtracks can make or break a scene, and this new song from New York band Brightwood Patriarch is perfect for the small screen. The introspective Americana of ‘Bow + Arrow’, from its pensive verses and anthemic chorus, to its fuzzy blues solo and closing refrain of “it’s not your fault”, is like an award-winning drama in and of itself. While we wait for TV producers to discover this gem, we’re lucky enough to experience the song on our own terms, and make our everyday lives seem that bit more cinematic and noteworthy. ‘Bow+ Arrow’ is the kind of song you listen to while staring out the window that makes you feel like you’re playing an important role, and that each challenge you face is just a part of a greater plan.
Belwood Music 