If you need a new addition to your indie disco playlist for you to dance around to like no one is watching, then look no further. Island Apollo are back, and the new single from this Southern California band combines indie, surf rock and tons of 80s charm. Recalling Duran Duran with its heavy synths and funky undertones, it’s hard not to be compelled to dance by this infectious new song. This fun track also has a whole lot of heart, as lyrically it speaks of standing by those you care about when they are at their lowest. It’s a fantastic little number offering guilt-free good times, fun summery vibes, and plenty of loveable retro appeal. There’s a lot here to like so I urge you to give it pride of place in your summer soundtrack.
top tracks
Top Tracks: CC Smugglers – Dirty Money
Slick and soulful aren’t often terms used to describe folk music, but they are a damn good fit for the latest track from this Bedfordshire band. ‘Dirty Money’ brings together a classic Americana sound complete with twanging banjos and hints of wild west piano, but imbues it with a real sense of swing and swagger that is hard to put your finger on, but adds a fresh contemporary feel. Singing about the age-old adage that money doesn’t bring you happiness, CC Smugglers have nailed it with this foot-stomping feel good hit. Perfect for fans of Mumford & Sons, The Lumineers and Blackberry Smoke, ‘Dirty Money’ is one of the most fun and infectious songs I’ve heard all year. The kind of track you can listen to all day, keep singing all night, and still not get tired of it. Folking brilliant!
Top Tracks: Tamino – Habibi
The new track from this half Egyptian, half Belgian songwriter just makes time stand still, and demands your full, undivided attention. Tamino’s vocals are like the bewitching tune of a snake-charmer, leaving you hanging on his every word. The somber ‘Habibi’, lying somewhere between a tango and a funeral march, shows that the greatest beauty can be found in sorrow. Reminiscent of the late great Jeff Buckley, particularly in the angelic falsetto in the track’s final fading moments, Tamino has shown himself to be the finest new vocalist I’ve heard this year. With the captivating melancholy of this cut from his debut EP, his breathtaking talent shines through the gloom and reveals him to be a real one to watch over the next few years.
Top Tracks: Tree – Hold My Hand
It’s easy to write a song that’s memorable, or bold, or exciting, but it’s rare to find a song that shows a sense of understanding. To take your own personal experiences and commit them to song in such a way that it forms a deep connection for people from all walks of life is no mean feat, but it’s something Tree have nailed with their new single. ‘Hold My Hand’, taken from their album The Bridge and The Mountain, tells a tale of overcoming adversity to find peace of mind and new opportunities, adorned with a backdrop of refined strings and wall-of-sound indie rock. With Tree listing Rush amongst their influences, it reminds me of ‘The Pass’ as it manages to somehow both sum up the feeling of being lost and alone, and find exactly the right words to provide comfort and reassurance.
Top Tracks: Bianca Rose – Hidden
Singer/songwriter Bianca Rose is back with the latest single from her debut album No Fear Here. ‘Hidden’, with its incredibly moving accompanying music video, speaks out about mental health and tells a tale about how difficult it can be to open up to others, even those that mean the world to us. Starting off as a delicate folk track before kicking off into a lush and expansive soul sound, it provides both gentle comfort and an uplifting message of hope. Sometimes an artist’s soul and character truly shine through when sharing something meaningful and personal, and this is a perfect example. This gorgeous song shares an important and heartfelt message that is sure to move you, and shows what a conscientious and compassionate songwriter Bianca really is.
Top Tracks: The Last Dinosaur – Grow
It’s sometimes easy to forget that while listening to music can provide great comfort and reassurance when times get tough, the same can also be said of creating it in the first place. Having lost his best friend in a tragic car crash in his youth, Jamie Cameron’s latest record is a powerful cathartic release after many years of pent-up pain and frustration. Taken from his upcoming album The Nothing out 7th July, the second record under his The Last Dinosaur moniker, ‘Grow’ is a bittersweet reflection on the fragile beauty of life. Combining gorgeous folk guitar melodies, an uplifting swell of strings, and a voice so breathy and delicate you fear it might get carried away on the breeze, it’s a song of unquestionable charm and beauty.
Top Tracks: Matt Koelsch – Perfectly Aligned
Ditching the confines of his office job in finance, singer/songwriter Matt Koelsch risked it all to follow his passion for music in LA. Judging by his latest single ‘Perfectly Aligned’ I’d say he made the right choice. Taken from his upcoming EP Thinking of You, the track is an ideal feel-good summer anthem. Fusing indie folk with striking splashes of brass, the song speaks of not conforming to expectations and refusing to measure yourself against others. Anyone with the guts to follow their heart gets a tick in my book, even more so those lucky few like Matt who have overcome every obstacle to achieve something to be proud of. We have here an uplifting hit from an inspiring up-and-coming musician; what’s not to love?
Top Tracks: Christina Martin – Lungs Are Burning
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: 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.
Belwood Music 