With Zkrrt’s previous albums, there was something of a new-starter vibe to many of the pop-like arrangements and songwriting transitions. In my view, this latest project has completely overcome that, showcasing a defiant attention to detail and mood that’s intoxicating from one track to the next. The original style and inspiration remains, the reasons for making music stand tall, but the focus, the understanding, and the willingness to move an audience, have only let the style and sound grow stronger and more alluring.
Albums
Sensational indie jams, slick guitar playing and soulful grooves – summer-night saxophone and a generally impressive fusion of excitement and colourful calm. Ununk delivers the goods in strong supply, with an instrumental playlist designed to both uplift and entertain audiences, as well as show off some incredibly handy-seeming musicianship at the helm.
Dreamy lo-fi indie guitar tones and honest vocals guide us into something ambient but organic, as musician and songwriter Charlie Bulmer introduces the authenticity and passion of his music, with worn out sweater.
Atmospheric sound-design and songwriting unconfined by genre – multi-faceted creative Son and Pro is an intense and thoughtful modern artist, with a chaotic fusion of political rap, rock and introspective indie to his sound.
Multi-instrumentalist Olly Davidson leads us with evocative and unique, classically inspired piano, into an ambient, reverb-soaked realm of quiet contemplation, and contrastingly uplifting indie gems, for the beautiful new album Up and Awake.
Soaring metal riffs and superb production guides us into the soulful soundscapes and songs of one-man-band Aaron Newsome – known to the streaming platforms as ServanT of 1.
Wilderness of Mirrors is a split concept album with heavy industrial production but a clever sort of ambient escapism akin to trip hop running alongside. Think industrial metal meets atmospheric soundscape design and conceptual depth, as four unique acts join forces to create the perfect creative storm at the start of the new year.
Clean contemporary production with catchy hooks and programmed vocals – a familiar sound with a brightness and story-central progression that meanders from genre to genre. Lawyer and family-man Beatzler has been producing music for over 15 years, and this year, he delivers a boldly eclectic album of high-quality original songs, as the aptly-titled new project FutureBreaker.
Music made for visual media, a careful combination of cinematic, classical and playful melodies and arrangements, built out of hybrid orchestral sounds and synths. Toby Tune captures a creative edge that’s artistic and intriguing, for ELEMENTS OF SUBSTANCE.
Soaring rock soundscapes both soulful and intense – meandering guitar lines and contrastingly smooth vocals, elevating the beauty of the Azerbaijani language. Alihsan delivers a fine fusion of power-ballad depth and alternative, poetic wonder, with 12 original rock tracks, and the opening power and melody of Cesaretin var mi.
From the ambient and cinematic, to the lo-fi jazz café and smooth, soulful indie pop vibes – counterglow follow instinct and emotion, throughout the colourful highs and lows of the intimate, immersive and rather classic album echoes of self.
Organic loops of instrumentation and voice, poetic and personal ideas resounding and lingering – an ambient but largely acoustic presentation, of songs that feel both revealing and mysterious in their vague bursts of both joy and sadness. German songwriter and artist Rico Friebe releases a brand new double album, in the form of the mighty The Desire Path / The Open Glade.