Canadian singer/songwriter Christina Martin is back with the first single from her forthcoming album. ‘Lungs Are Burning’ is inspired by a rising drug crisis in her native Canada, and lyrically the track deals with living with addiction; the search for the next high and the inevitable crash that follows. Christina’s vocals are reminiscent in places of Stevie Nicks and the lush instrumentation does a fantastic job of contrasting the dark subject matter, but without making light of it. The attention grabbing bass tones and glimmers of The War On Drugs inspired soundscapes really add to its appeal (although the irony isn’t lost on me). It’s a superb track that tells an important story, and is surely a good omen of more great songs to come.
top tracks
Top Tracks: Paul Thomas Saunders – Holding On For Love
Singer/songwriter Paul Thomas Saunders is back with the his first new music in three years. Following on from his acclaimed 2014 album Beautiful Desolation, his new track ‘Holding On For Love’ is a beautiful piano-driven ballad that captures the style of such great artists as Carole King and Billy Joel. Its mellow and uplifting melody is like some skyward waltz towards the heavens, carried by a gentle summer breeze. Eminently likeable, Saunders’ new track is the kind of gorgeous balladry that many songwriters can only dream of writing. If this track is anything to go by, he may well have another critically acclaimed album to his name in the near future.
Top Tracks: Louder Still – Speed Machine
Reading rockers Louder Still have made one hell of a first impression with their debut single ‘Speed Machine’. Recalling the likes of AC/DC and Deep Purple, the track is a textbook example of the classic hard rock sound. Raw and untamed, it’s a no-holds-barred adrenaline fueled thrill ride. The song is matched perfectly by its drag race music video, which is equally as intense and action packed. Perfect for fans of Airbourne and The Answer, this fired up four piece are eager to prove themselves to be Britain’s new hard rock heroes. Only time will tell if Louder Still will win over the classic rock crowd, but rest assured that one could never accuse them of giving it any less than their all.
Top Tracks: Sophia – Give Me Heart
The debut single from this budding Bath-based singer/songwriter is perfect for those lonely, introspective nights. A fragile, yet powerful message of reassurance, ‘Give Me Heart’ very much reminds me of Julien Baker with its gentle indie folk vibes and crystal clear vocals. The track is perfectly matched by its introverted video which shares in Sophia’s moments of reflection. ‘Give Me Heart’ is that tender voice of reason telling us that things are never as bad as they seem, and that the world has so much more to offer. A voice that all to often goes unheard when things are at their worst. It’s an incredibly moving and heartfelt track, and I look forward to hearing more of Sophia on her upcoming debut EP later this year.
Top Tracks: Mr Byrd – I’ll Never Let Go
Raised in Alabama, and now based in Nashville, singer/songwriter Jeremy Byrd has released his latest stirring single. ‘I’ll Never Let You Go’, taken from his upcoming debut EP Steel Cold Train out 9th June, begins with a gentle rise and fall like the ebb and flow of the tide, but soon builds into something powerful and angelic. Somehow Byrd has made a song with a profound sense of longing, that also ends up being heart-warmingly uplifting. What we have here is a folk artist with a whole lot of soul. With a rich, soothing sound, and plenty of sincerity and charm to boot, Byrd has crafted the musical equivalent of a lovely cup of tea on a cold winter’s morning; good for the soul and able to make the world seem so much more at ease.
Top Tracks: Beachwood Coyotes – Face To Face
Inspired by a bizarre and ill-advised acid trip, LA based band Beachwood Coyotes have some killer new music on the way. ‘Face To Face’, the first single from their upcoming EP Scrubby, has all the necessary elements for a bona fide indie anthem. With it’s driving rhythm, uplifting harmonies, crystal clear guitar riffs and plenty of attention grabbing hooks, the Beachwood boys appear to be onto something! It’s a track that very much exceeded my expectations, and at times reminded me of The Gaslight Anthem and early Amber Run. ‘Face To Face’ is up there with the best indie releases of the year. With a few more hits like this to their name Beachwood Coyotes could well be one to watch.
Top Tracks: 99 Trees – Broken
Multi-instrumentalist and producer Axel Concato, and Danish born singer Pia Blixen have joined forces for this new project under the moniker 99 Trees. ‘Broken’, from their upcoming EP 21st Century out 23rd June, is the first single from this Paris-based duo. Combining psychedelic 60s soundscapes with modern pop hooks, the track has bags of charm. It’s many quirky elements are reminiscent of everything from Bowie’s ‘Ashes To Ashes’ and Pet Sounds era Beach Boys, to Jefferson Airplane’s ‘White Rabbit’, albeit polished with a more contemporary radio-friendly sheen. Walking the line between experimental and accessible is no mean feat, but 99 Trees have pulled it off. ‘Broken’ is a great taste of what’s to come and leaves you wanting more from this promising pair.
Top Tracks: Lejon – If
The new single from this London-based electropop duo offers a delightfully retro 80s twist to the increasingly popular synth-driven scene. Laurence Jepson and Charlie Dale mix in tried and tested futuristic synth sounds with hints of everyone from Bastille and James Vincent McMorrow, to Belwood Award winner Rationale. The production here is immaculate and the track boasts a passionate vocal delivery that is streets ahead of most acts in the scene. It’s the kind of song that will appeal to fans of the mainstream and the underground alike; a rare and fascinating place to be. Lejon offer a glimpse into their vast potential with ‘If’, and depending on where they go next they may well lead the genre to exciting new places with future releases.
Top Tracks: Night Click – The Drug Store Ceiling
‘The Drug Store Ceiling’, the title track from Night Click’s upcoming debut album out 21st July, plays like an amalgamation of two classic American sounds. A New Jersey native, songwriter Michael Klics relocated to LA to perform under his new moniker. His music carries with it the legacy of two incredibly important places of musical heritage, each on opposite sides of the country. ‘The Drug Store Ceiling’ combines the radio friendly harmonies and sun-drenched psychedelica of the classic Californian sound, with a bold brass section and Springsteen-esque Americana vibes. It’s a winning combination, and as such this track simply oozes charm with each new listen. Night Click has released a very promising first single and I look forward to hearing how his sublime sound develops from here.
Top Tracks: Whitehorse – Nighthawks
The latest single from this Canadian duo has all the wickedly addictive pull of the classic psychedelic pop sound. ‘Nighthawks’, taken from their upcoming album Panther In The Dollhouse out 4th August, boasts some stunning melodies. With 60s surf rock reverb, hints of modern electropop, and a chorus with more hooks than a tackle shop, it’s a genre-bending track that’s hard not to love. On paper, all these separate elements are things you would associate with something upbeat and summery, instead it spins them around a slick noir vibe that simply oozes attitude and danger. The end result is a song so certifiably badass that it seduces you a little more with each new listen. One of the most captivating and rewarding listens you’re likely to find right now.
Belwood Music 