Junior’s single Love Is Gone is one that swiftly evolves from simple pop to outstanding soul-rock within a few short minutes. Where the verses have a certain delicacy about them, a quietness even, the hook pours through as this completely unexpected moment of brightness – a choir of voices, a multi-layered rock soundscape, and a wonderful reminder of acts such as Queen and Prince alike – a fine fusion of royalty.
Singles
King St. offer a simple fusion of Americana and indie-pop with their latest album, all connected beautifully with some poetic and heartfelt songwriting.
Raymond Dickerson keeps classic funk and soul alive in one mighty swoop with this single Dixie. Bringing together raw vocals, an infectious rhythm, and a rock and roll edge that emerges during the latter half, the song offers a whole host of musical perks that work wonderfully in uplifting and energizing the room.
The soundscape itself loops out & around you as a soothing constant – that riff, that subtle sense of rhythm, that voice; all of it connects in a masterful yet natural way. Fusing poetry with personal reflections on life, the lyrics captivate & offer a fine balance between individual truth and a more widely accessible feeling of isolation or being lost.
There’s familiarity in the way the whole thing pours through. There’s not a common set-up, it doesn’t feel verse-chorus-like, it just emerges and moves along like an ambient hip hop loop; adding further to that laid back, calming energy.
KC Sisters harmonize beautifully on this refreshing take on The Marvelettes 1960’s classic Please Mr. Postman. It’s a pleasure to hear this song again after so long, especially when it’s been given such a light and lovely makeover.
The now unmistakable sound of 3mind Blight offers a hint of classic Eminem-style story-telling with this single Another Life. Another impressive, fascinating and brilliantly produced release from the Oklahoma based artist and songwriter.
Pushing the shoegaze boat out far into the creative distance, sweetsoak immerse their sound in lashings of reverb for this latest single – presenting the melodic and rhythmic qualities of rock through a dreamlike wash of warmth and lightness.
You get a notable sense of identity from the sound, and the voice seems inherently connected to the lyrics, so the whole thing just works in the way that you’d hope your favourite band’s music to – each time you return to it.
The various stages of the song each seem to surprise and yet satisfy, suggesting there is hope for the future of songwriting and that there is undoubtedly plenty of creativity left to emerge as 2019 peaks its head around the corner.
Where the majority of dance releases have taken to the modern pop-fusion approach in recent years, this track offers hope. There’s a classic or tribal house vibe to the composition that’s a joy to have rain down around you.
Gentle riffs echo around the outer layers, as do fragments of that recognisable vocal, and meanwhile the beat keeps things moving – subtly, allowing the track to maintain its peacefully chaotic vibe.