Time for something completely engaging, entertaining and thoughtful, with vocals and lyrics that naturally soothe. Outback Stormchasers are an elusive and impressive indie band, and Famous Last Words in the Multiverse is a genuine gem of an album for the year ahead.
Albums
Unsettle and entertain, be original but engaging and effective – provide unrivalled electronic escapism – boxes all finely ticked by the eclectic and bold repertoire of Ad al Maar.
Digital composition is timeless in many ways, and when the music has this organic, natural and profoundly human feel, it’s all the more important and valuable, when piercing through the noise and artificial electronic design of late.
Todd Underwood consistently masters this meeting between surface level entertainment and the subtle but striking thought-process of an artist seeking to make sense of the world.
UK rock three-piece Lois keep things authentic and engaging, with their electrifying fusion of nostalgia and anthemic songwriting, throughout the riff-strong high-energy album 67 Skies.
Beautiful music, organic folk-pop with heartfelt songwriting and humble vocals at the forefront. Mackenzie Miller delivers a classic, timeless album, with the eleven original songs of Peninsula.
This is genuinely one of the most likable, engaging and rather addictive alternative rock EPs to hit the scene in recent years. Smokedown master the space within which the music exists, not just playing for themselves, nor simply for you, but creating something that feels both comforting in its groove and persistence, and completely unexpected in both topic and tenacity.
2024 was a huge year for Westie Subz. Larry Bird OG hit the scene as a dark and deeper-toned single from the rising artist, and highlighted the old-school rap roots that inspired the creative in everything from storytelling to the clarity of the mix to the nostalgic and mellow yet heavy nature of the beat.
The track blends melody and rap in a familiar way, flooding the space with storytelling and scenes that help keep things grounded amidst this underlying topic of Kings.
Music-making racoon Trash Panda collaborates with long-time friend Andrew, to deliver an aptly-titled album of original compositions that quickly sets listeners off on an immersive and dreamy journey.
Bryan Braning was inspired by his wife and daughters to write the songs of Rise Phoenix. The tracks read like poems in many ways, often abstract and provocative, rather than literal and detailed or following specific scenes. There’s a depth to the wonder of each song, and the music backs that up well.
Beginning with a Content Warning, the album sets out to explore the story of a girl who attempts to commit suicide, but winds up immersed in an Alice in Wonderland-style adventure – within which she’s forced to confront her mental health demons. It’s a dark topic, but broadly relatable, and the album is loaded with imagery and ideas that feel hopeful and optimistic in contrast with the desperation at its core.