SINGLE REVIEW: Weekly Round-Up 14/08/23 - 20/08/23 (part two)
A round up of all the new music we’ve been enjoying this week!
A Night In November - Sunny Mornings
Dealing with the curveball's life has a habit of throwing up 'Sunny Morning' is a sparkling retro slice of early 2000s Pop punk. Blissfully melodic and wonderfully positive. During times of angst it reminisces over days we didn't realise where our best until they were nothing but a memory, but urges keep going because things will get better. Dark nights are always followed by brighter mornings. It's a track about finding strength in the darkness, believing in the future, not pining for the past. Rhythmic riffs, fresh drums, and a sunshine demeanour. It's a wonderfully fun, catchy listen steeped in nostalgia. It shines like a welcome ray of hopefulness.
Gabba - Puzzle
'Puzzle' was a little lost on me as I can't say I usually dig instrumental music, but I did enjoy the mosaic of sounds.
It truly is a puzzle of noise. Mixing simple dreamy vibes with mystical tones and a funky groove. Its initial immersive imagery is like a pull toward the light. An awakening like an animal emerging from hibernation into the spring sunshine. Leading to a sudden, unexpected burst of a crashing prologue to funky beats and a celebratory stance. The shifts to intricate twinkles revisit the springtime vibes of the intro. It's an engulfing listen, jazzy and hammering, progressive and infectious. At times I found myself so submerged in all the tempo changes and mental visions the music was producing I forgot there were no lyrics to focus on.
For someone who puts the majority of weight on a song's words I found myself captivated by the energy and diversity of 'Puzzle' far more than I expected.
The Lonely Surf - 12 Months Out
'12 Months Out' is a sunshine-laced singalong with an uplifting melody and charming punk-meets indie pop harmonies. Catchy lyrics, swooping guitars, and bounding drum beats. It's an infectious, instantly memorable listen. Perfect for summer with its bright, playful, beach-ready vibes. Dazzling chords play out alongside honest, anthemic vocals. Brimming with 90s nostalgia and a modern contemporary twist, it swoops and soars with flawless production and the perfect jangle to make you want to get up and dance!
iSquinty - Good Grief
'Good Grief' is a beautiful slow jam, pure emotion flowing through iSquinty’s raspy, soulful vocals. It's a beautiful soundscape of authenticity. It's clear the words come from a very personal place.
As someone who doesn't follow a religion, I found its more faith-based themes a little uncomfortable; however, they're delivered relatively subtly, often feeling more like a love song, meaning it didn't feel like I had religious views forced on me. I think this will help make the track accessible to people who don't share the same beliefs.
WeirdWolf - Good Touch
Grand and thrilling 'Good Touch' is a confident slice of authentic alt-rock. Intense male vox blends beautifully with the wonderfully softer backing vocals in a call-and-response style. Heavy riffs bound alongside gripping drums and a stoner meets grunge groove-driven bassline. It's a thundering listen abounding with stadium-ready impact. An absolute banger with epic hooks and infectious energy, monumental by anyone's standard. A stunning example of everything the band has to offer. A track that commands your attention and demands to be played LOUD!
New Collusion - Picture This
'Picture This' is a massive, high octane, stadium filling sound. Driven and bold it blasts from the moment it arrives. Polished and professional, the tempo changes captivate. Blending more twinkling indie melodies with statement classic rock tones works well to add depth to the sound. The vocals took me a while to dissect, they're somewhat flawed, not always in time but I think that's what adds character to the track. The obvious imperfections, but the unequivocal passion. Once you unpack the sincerity and the raw heartfelt emotion the faults somehow don't matter as much. Musically 'Picture This' is faultless, commanding and dominant. The vocals definitely have room for improvement although I'd not want to see them become pitch perfect as I think that would cause New Collusion’s sound to lose all its integrity and honesty.
PlanG - Sometime
'Sometime' is a beautiful, tender listen, thoughtful and reflective. It really induces feelings of sadness and empathy while also injecting an air of hopefulness. The idea that while something is over, paths may cross again one day. The notion that the end might not truly be the end, life's never certain if it's meant to be, it will find a way eventually. PlanG’s vocals are wonderfully raw. It's clear he is singing from the heart. There's a warm, friendly glow to his voice. The simple musical accompaniment and whining guitars perfectly back the track's saddened imagery.
Naoto Sawmura - Nonetheless
'Nevertheless' is noisy, chaotic, and impactful. I like the track's lack of structure. It's like musical bedlam! A bounding dose of disarray topped with growling, snarling vocals. Bold in its execution, it's a cacophony of experimentation and trepidation. A dynamic, powerful sound that doesn't quite fit anywhere. It twists and turns, reinventing itself as it goes. A noise that isn't trying to sound like anyone else. It's just trying to rock out and have a good time. Hard rock battling against noise rock blasting at every opportunity.
