Monsters blends story and style in a way that’s frankly unrivalled right now. We’re in the artistic territory of early 2000s triphop and dark dance – the melodic appeal, the depth and weight of distortion and design, the conceptual detail and subtle riffs. Genre feels like a secondary aspect of what is ultimately an artistic encapsulation of mood and scene.
Singles
Catchy synths reverberate for a disarming opening moment, before distorted warmth and rhythm present a wholly encompassing groove. Hannover’s Betweenzone always bring the professionalism and reliability to modern music.
Just seventeen years old and already carving out a classic but fresh sound as a modern producer. DJ Jan is set to close down this year’s Monster Energy Catalunya MotoGP Grand Prix, alongside a plethora of other noteworthy appearances to follow, and the sheer intensity and creative edge of TEC quite naturally highlights why.
Promising verses more focused than ever, a fast-paced outpouring of scenes that captivate, Trial is a song based around the Franz Kafka novel The Trial, and delivers a breathless encapsulation of that across less than a minute and a half of music.
Spanish flavours and gritty fragments of natural world sound unite amidst the tropical bounce of grant4ore’s Drought day riddem.
Taking Names offers a plethora of deeply poetic, metaphorical and impressive lyrics – the sharpness and intelligence of which permits the song the worthy status of requiring you to listen more than a couple of times to grasp every idea. There are depths to the music, and as such, each time you do revisit, the music and story hit with all the more impact.
Hailing from Garut in West Java, now creating out of Jakarta, long-time guitarist and songwriter Sonny brings a welcomed twist of humility and heart to alternative rock.
The familiar ache of desperation, of inescapable self-burden, resounds throughout the fearlessly honest lyrics of the song, and the contrast between these thoughtful, clearly informed verses, and the heavier resolve of the hook, helps the topic and feeling really connect.
It’s a simple but essential take on the matter, and the music sounds immense – hopefully Better Off Alive will reach the right people at just the right time.
Creatively side-stepping away form the norm, but with professionalism and emotion to meet the clear talent on display, Troielle captures a style of her own, for the alluring new single Always In Time.
Producer and musician, songwriter and performer, artist – Christopher Dallman has long since been one of modern music’s most adventurous creators. Time and time again Dallman manages to successfully capture an engaging balance between sheer experimentation and passionate connection.
Utilising both the French and Fongbé languages from their native Benin, Duo Landry+ underline the power and beauty of music in connecting on a profound level. There is no barrier between the band and the listeners with any other native tongue – the music is a simple joy and inspiring pleasure to listen to.
Creatively intertwining lo-fi guitar pop with long-form RnB vocals and poetic, appreciative lyrics, Oisín impresses with a fine fusion of professionalism and passion, for the infectious new single Summer.