This Brisbane based band have released one of the most attention-grabbing indie singles of the year. Although this Australian outfit boast a synth driven sound akin to our own up-and-coming Blossoms, the real pull of this track lies with its chunky bass lines. I honestly can’t remember the last time I heard such sublime bass tones within a rock song. Lyrically ‘Seeing It All’ deals with a relationship that becomes so consuming, you lose all sense of self and purpose without that person, and the subsequent journey to find yourself that follows. That deeper meaning within the song is adorned with indie hooks to make the perfect playlist material. Australia has had a real musical renaissance in recent years, so keep a close eye on Calais, as they could be the country’s next great export.
top tracks
Top Tracks: Carlo Barbagallo – Any Girl’s Eyes
Belwood is proud to premiere the new video from Sicilian musician and songwriter Carlo Barbagallo. ‘Any Girl’s Eyes’, taken from his new album 9, stands at the crossroads between folk, jazz and soul, having explored a fair share of miles towards each musical horizon. With an airy melody reminiscent of Nick Drake, albeit fleshed out with an understated brass section, smatterings of soulful guitar and organ, and slick piano work, the track stands as an impressive and expansive music monument. Straddling the line between classic and contemporary, Carlo has taken a deceptively simple song and has given it a larger than life sound. Carrying the same kind of ambition and attention to detail that you’d find on Michael Kiwanuka’s acclaimed album Love & Hate, it’s easily the best R&B offering that I’ve heard thus far in 2017.
Top Tracks: Hermetic Delight – Vow
Belwood Music is proud to premiere the music video from Hermetic Delight. ‘Vow’, the title track of the French band’s latest EP, is a dark and eerie voyage through a nocturnal landscape, complete with menacing post-punk instrumentation and vocals reminiscent of Courtney Swain from art rock band Bent Knee. The new video follows each of the band members as they wind their way through the city streets; from the brightly lit hustle and bustle, to its dark and seedy underbelly. Jumping between each band member, each new turn takes them deeper into an unseen world, where the threatening tension of ‘Vow’ seems all the more potent. The song and its accompanying video work in perfect harmony to create a broody atmosphere that is hard to pull yourself out of.
Top Tracks: The Firelight Opera – Alive
Now here is a new alternative rock band to get excited about! For a genre that prides itself on its high energy, these days it all too often feels stale and uninspired. Sunderland based band The Firelight Opera bring something new to the scene with their debut single ‘Alive’, taken from their upcoming album Communication Breakdown out 29th May. What sets them apart is the fact that four of the band members share lead vocal duties, bringing a refreshing dynamic into the mix. Though the intertwining vocal melodies often steal the show, the track also boasts plenty of soaring guitar work and a profoundly though provoking music video. Put all that together and you find yourself listening to the ideal alternative anthem from one of the most promising new bands on the scene.
Top Tracks: Rachel Jane – Waiting For A Change
I’m fairly sure “badass” isn’t a technical term, however there’s no denying that it perfectly encapsulates the new track from singer/songwriter Rachel Jane. ‘Waiting For A Change’, taken from her upcoming second EP The Mountain due in July, is an evocative anthem full of drive and conviction. With riffs akin to AM era Arctic Monkeys, Rachel sings with the spirit of someone beaten down by the world, only for each blow to further fan the flames of her inner strength. If you need a song to spur you forth to break the chains holding you back and step out into the world as through it was yours for the taking, then this is it, no question. Rachel Jane is definitely a name to look out for at this summer’s festivals.
Top Tracks: Lucy & La Mer – Honey, Put Your Weapons Down
I often find myself drawn to songs with something different or unique to offer, and that’s just what I discovered upon first hearing the new single from LA based singer/songwriter Lucy LaForge. ‘Honey, Put You Weapons Down’ combines a simple, albeit off-kilter melody with soaring strings to produce a curious folk pop hit. It has all the hooks and slick production to appeal to pop fans, but also brings together the kind of musicality and eccentricity that indie folk fans are sure to love. Lyrically the track speaks of the need for that special spark with a relationship, that if it’s meant to be it should feel relaxed and natural rather than an uphill battle. On this song Lucy has created an innovative and modern pop sound that is well ahead of the curve.
Top Tracks: VŌS – Patience
If you are a fan of mellow and mesmerising electropop then I have one hell of a treat for you, as the debut single from new London duo VŌS is right up your street. Crafting a sound somewhere between James Blake and Oh Wonder, ‘Patience’ is a simple and effective first foray for this promising pair. Created around understated electronica, where each note is polished to perfection, everything is in its place, and not one unnecessary element crops up to muddy the waters. It’s a seamless single, so finely formed that it could have been expertly crafted from blown glass. Electropop is very “in” right now, and even so, there are few examples that match ‘Patience’ for sheer class and elegance.
Top Tracks: Dia – Synchronized Swimming
Trained as an opera singer, songwriter and composer Dia’s latest musical venture sees her exploring a sound that is very different from her origins, but just as beautiful. Danielle Birrittella, under her moniker Dia, has gathered together the necessary elements for an ethereal baroque pop soundscape on her travels throughout the US and Europe. ‘Synchronized Swimming’, taken from her debut EP Tiny Ocean, calls to mind acts such as Lana Del Rey and The Last Shadow Puppets. With its curious rhythms, lush guitar tones and gorgeous melodies, it is a song perfectly matched for bittersweet sunsets and summer daydreams on the beach. The track strikes a peculiar balance between the classic 50s sound and 90s alternative, with the end result surrounding you with its hypnotic haze.
Top Tracks: Julian Fulton – Rosie’s Disposition
Eclectic New Jersey based singer/songwriter Julian Fulton is back with his latest single. ‘Rosie’s Disposition’ is taken from his upcoming EP Battered Receptions out 12th May, and the proceeds from pre-orders going towards the ACLU. This latest offering kick-starts with a frenetic stream of consciousness style lyricism, before delving into a world of bright, upbeat indie riffs and big memorable hooks. Yet again Julian has proven his adeptness for blurring the lines between genres. A brief break within the track features some delicate acoustic guitar and atmospheric choral harmonies, while the closing moments briefly showcase the kind of whimsical psychedelica you’d expect to find on Sgt. Pepper. Like his previous track ‘Howl‘, ‘Rosie’s Disposition’ is the product of a wildly imaginative mind, of someone who loves and revels in all forms of music, and it is perfect for those souls of a similar nature.
Top Tracks: Kim Janssen – Gouldians
Born in the Netherlands, but greatly influenced by his upbringing in South-East Asia, singer/songwriter Kim Janssen has returned with a lush and likeable new single ahead of his appearance at The Great Escape Festival next month. ‘Gouldians’, taken from his forthcoming album Cousins out 12th May, is a warm and welcoming slice of indie folk perfect for fans of Ben Howard, The War On Drugs and early Bon Iver. Starting with just a simple acoustic arrangement, it soon expands into a compelling soundscape of layered dream pop synths, beguiling bass tones and an uplifting and subdued falsetto to pierce through the haze. The song paints a vivid picture of a world that promises peace of mind and unspoilt natural beauty, simply close your eyes and let it carry you away.
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