SINGLE REVIEW: Weekly Round-Up 14/08/23 - 20/08/23 (part one)
A round up of all the new music we’ve been enjoying this week!
Goldfish Smarts - Man About Town
I love the groove running throughout. 'Man About Town' is a funky, contagious listen. Neatly infusing hazy Madchester 90's indie vibes with soulful, pop-ish melodies and blues tendencies before breaking into a more heavy rock stance. It's got an infectious aura of pretentious swagger. Goldfish Smarts radiate confidence and have the ability to seamlessly genre-hop to create a dynamic, authentic sound.
Me In Colour - Feels Like
Full of emotion I like the powerful vocals of 'Feels Like' and the addictive groove. I like the 80's inspired stance abounding in glitter laced pop melodies with an injection of contemporary effects. I enjoyed the mix of laid back energy and grander bursts of passion. Retro and modern, it's a glistening, soulful pop anthem.
Lone Kodiak - Let’s Hear It For the Kid
The atmospheric intro to 'Let's Hear It For the Kid' worked magnificently to build intrigue and grab my attention. It's an excellent prologue to the plodding yet thundering drums and grinding guitars. The hazy vocals are captivating, and the tempo changes add maximum impact, giving the track an understated yet extravagant sound. I like its subtle anarchic themes and 90s-inspired vibes. A fun, well-constructed tune that's rousing and hook-laden.
Strawhouse - Movin On
I like the simple-sounding yet complex melodies of 'Movin On'. It's a pretty little ditty, a real toe-tapper. Subtly vibrant and passionately uplifting. I like how it blends genres, shifting from tender folk meets country vibes into full power, bold Americana. It's a thoughtful tune with positive energy and an engaging, progressive subject matter conveying the idea of moving on to better pastures with jubilant integrity.
Richard Orofino - I Hope So
'I Hope So' is an immersive dreamscape. An engulfing sound that uses effects and soft synths so they create a perfect atmosphere but do not overpower Richard’s smooth, ethereal vocals. It's a well produced track that retains an element of DIY bedroom pop vibes. Richard's vocal range is impressive, and the high notes perfectly fit the track's tone. It's like a whirlpool of emotions, a captivating, bright and inviting soundscape of visions and hazy colours. It's a benevolent pop track with hits of trip-hop psychedelia and indie rock girth.
Dream Pony - Bikini Vision
'Bikini Vision' is an excellent fuzzed-up, surfy, DIY anthem. I like how it teams bedroom indie with elements of grunge and shoegaze distortion with art rock theatrics and a whirling psychedelic edge. It's a diverse listen, borrowing from a whole plethora of styles. I like its deconstructed feel and back-to-basics stance. The dreamy female vocals work well with the more abrasive male vox. I also enjoyed the track's inclusive, body-positive themes.
Sex Shop Mushrooms - Watch Yourself
First off, I gotta say…BEST BAND NAME EVER!!
I like the gritty, raucous nature of 'Watch Yourself'; it's dark and sinister. Robust and hard-hitting. It's compelling in its unpolished stance, the raw punk meets grunge energy blending exceptionally to mirror the song's harrowing themes. The extended distorted intro builds suspense before the gruelling vocals kick in. As a woman, I always appreciate when male-fronted bands take a stand against violence toward women. It is clear from the delivery of 'Watch Yourself' it's a cause the band feels passionately about. The haunting distortion makes the words and uneasy feel of the track even more real. A thundering, gritty listen abounds in its honesty and A powerful message.
Deer Park Avenue - Strut
I love the bold confidence of 'Strut'. Driven and intoxicating, it's a powerful, determined listen. It captivates with classic rock vibes and electrifying swagger. Ablaze with tantalising riffs and abounding assertiveness. It's enticingly dark with an ambitious composition drawing from prog rock and dissonant blues harmonies blended from the track's guitar-led, chord-heavy classic base. The vocals are unwavering in their self-assured energy shifting from cute and extra feminine to ballsy and dominant. It's a perfect slice of girl power, showing that women within the music industry are a force to be reckoned with! A fervent, high-impact listen.
