Charles Ryan Davis steps back up to the stage with his uniquely expressive leading voice, and a series of structurally complex, theatrical compositions, that completely embrace listeners; allowing for a fully entrancing hit of escapism throughout a short but satisfying playlist.
EPs
It’s a mature, thoughtful and yet playful exploration of sound. I love the singer’s voice, the song’s narrative and I have to say that the other songs on We Were Children Yesterday sound similarly diverting. Spellbinding, in fact!
Devin Kennedy’s return this month brings a beautifully heartfelt and colourful collection of original songs, the sort that rightfully showcase his intentions and abilities as an artist, as well as deliver the perfect fusion of ambient pop vibes to keep things warm as the winter months settle in.
Lost My Ticket is a fine introduction to the Kuwait based band, but more than this – it’s a short collection of original songs that genuinely breathe new life into the music world.
One of Bentley Records’ newest artists Katherine Appello emerges with a six-track album of unique instances of story-telling amidst an ongoing, engaging, delicate and distant soundscape.
Security contrasts with uncertainty, stable moments of melody jar with sudden hits of rhythm and spontaneity. Meanwhile you can feel the strength of the title concept, these waves, this ocean surrounding you, the night sky dark and still above.
Dedicating every aspect of her life to music, the new project showcases an artist with a vast range of influences and a clear love for the art form on multiple levels.
The careful hints of emotion that Lily injects into her performances help really bring the lyrics alive, letting them connect on a profound and lasting level. This is the kind of escapism that embraces the darker parts of life and somehow turns them into a strangely warming arena of understanding.
Each song creates a gentle and satisfyingly human take on Roensch’s subject matter, which is ruminative and delicate and a little bit trippy. It’s distinct and idiosyncratic and I dig it for that.
A three piece of guitar, bass and drums comes powering out of the traps here. It’s a fizzy capture, washes of cymbals and some heavy riffing on guitar creating a robust, muscular backdrop for some vocals with attitude.
Occupying the ground between Julian Cope during his Fried period and then the snarl and belligerent punky attitude of John Lydon, the lead vocal punches hard on the track Someone You Know. It then wanders into something more wistful and lyrically more exploratory on Waste of Time. There’s an ever-present natural vibrato when the vocal is more relaxed. But melodically, the vocals are making some very deliberate dissonant choices which reek of swagger and confidence and an overall looseness to proceedings which is genuinely original in the current climate.
Someone You Know also boasts interesting rhythm and arrangement choices. ‘Your expectations are too much,’ posits the singer. But they are actually served pretty well, thanks, with some smart arrangement chops which retain the interest well. These include a wandering exploratory guitar solo part and, in particular, a proper diversion into new territory just before the track’s conclusion, when a bridge part suddenly offers a sonic treat before resolving beautifully into a meaty post-chorus riff and the song abruptly concludes.
Waste of Time is more of a workout dynamically, with some questing guitar riffs adding a mystical air to the mix and the vocal gets to explore more tones, at times coming across like Gary Numan in terms of word-chewing delivery.
‘Waves crashing over waves,’ gets repeated in an intense repeating pattern in an exciting bridge part which again makes a welcome impression just before the song’s conclusion. It’s exciting and unexpected and really delivers.
A shot in the arm lyrically and in terms of attitude and energy, Microcosm’s EP is a breath of fresh air.
Is there such a genre as ‘stoner country’? If not, it’s possible that Jesh has invented it! Warm and woozy in the way that a bottle of firewater shared around a campfire on a cold night might be.
The band set things up with style, progressing with endless levels of flair & ability. Their unity is on form, the music is ready & waiting to be that addictive little anthem that gets you geared up to take on the world with the best possible energy.