Polish duo BORDER impress intensely with their recent single Fading. Something of a nostalgic pop-punk effort with more punk-rock and grit than anything purely pop-inspired, the track features an immense rock set-up of distorted guitars and explosive drums, but counters and contrasts this brilliantly from one moment to the next.
Rebecca Cullen
The mildness of this composition is impressive, given how all-consuming the layers and music turn out to be. When listened to at volume, the intricacy of the sound, and indeed, its contrasting depth, work their magic to a profound degree, and the topical implication united amidst that adds a whole other layer of emotional conviction.
I’ll Be Your Dog is a rather simple but stunning folk-country single, something like Micah P Hinson, but perhaps more joyful – a mellow groove, a colourful vibe, and a beautifully interesting voice. The single is self-defined as an ode to Bob Dylan’s Pat Garrett & Billy The Kid, and welcomes an Americana set-up that quickly transports you to the centre of the live performance.
Taiwan’s sykii blends the atmospheric nostalgia of electronic trip-hop and lo-fi production, with mellow but sharp, smart bars, and a distinct vocal tone that naturally helps set the sound apart.
The beating heart of contemporary soul and RnB rings loud, and the conceptual depth and originality of Died to Myself helps make for a fiercely relatable, modestly unforgettable single.
From the UK to Austria, producer and singer-songwriter Benjamin Andrews maintains a sense of purpose and heart, whilst carving out a pristine and full arrangement, for the euphoric celebration Vienna Never Sleeps.
Brilliantly confident, quiet but up-tempo, unforgiving and loaded with lyrical gems. Osaragi is an insanely good modern hip hop track, and is simple in set-up but immediately distinct. Lefistos! clearly brings something fearlessly original to the scene, and his intelligent writing style and modest vocal tone unite with seamless swagger and charm.
Nostalgic and soulful RnB vocals pave the way towards a heartfelt, conscious set of bars, as Prince Kelley delivers the poetic and vulnerable ode to unbreakable connection that is Your Luv.
Huge pop anthems of a live-band aura and catchy, evocative songwriting – MatteoM’s long-anticipated album What Is It All About? delivers an extensive exploration of the vagaries of love and the difficulties they present. It begins with the hugely vibrant pop-rock anthem Change Of Heart.
Memory of Xinjiang is a sensational original composition, and draws focus to the modernization of Chinese music in recent years, and the embracing of technology alongside traditional instrumental formats, to create wholly compelling, incomparable new soundscapes.
To coincide with the release of the evocative and atmospheric modern single 22:22, we caught an interview with Chinese composer and artist CDA REVE, to find out more about his unique journey as both an artist and a lifelong dreamer and creative. Here’s the conversation in full. * * * Hi REVE, such a pleasure … Continued
Poetic songwriting is key, finding a new way of framing a somewhat familiar sentiment or introspection, and then building a story and song around that central idea. The Architect encapsulates the value of that approach, quite literally in fact, and while the style is nothing ground-breaking, it doesn’t need to be.