The intriguing creativity of LA drummer and composer Arhkota captures a new sense of direction and provocative thought this month, as the electronic rock alternative moves through the industrial rhythms and dreamy contemplations of Plastic Saints.
Dream Pop
Why this title? What connects these ideas and feelings? There’s so much to unpack, and yet at the same time, the cinematic presence and performative charm of the project lets the music simply engage with and entertain its listener. In short, Pertinax is stunning, and impressively free in its artistic and playful creativity.
From the dawn of the Bad Bubble audio experience – the first mention of Underscore, the historical poignancy of Future 9 – all of this has been with devout purpose; an artist intent on creating a legacy and lasting memory of a story and of his daughter. There are many heart-breaking and beautiful moments throughout the vast collection of albums, EPs and singles, but more relevantly, there are many, and perhaps some of the most impactful of all, to be found throughout a conclusion.
Angel T33th presents a project that’s been a decade in the making, and effectively embraces her audience, in a world full of poignant reflections, poetic mystique, and ambient, provocative waves of emotion.
Dublin creative The Neon Sea ventures further into the poetry and dreamy alt-rock sound of former tracks, with the Troubadour Version of Burning.
Gaming and music pioneers Play’n GO join forces with singer-songwriter Niamh Ni Mheara, for an ethereal to euphoric journey through delicacy and vastness.
This song impresses all the more so with each revisit. Think of those unusual pop songs that just work brilliantly, yet feel a little left of the expected – Drinking in LA, Somebody That I Used to Know. The kind of indie pop song you wish you’d written, and in this case, it’s perfectly captured and produced. An easy must for the summer playlists.
Music that means something, softly gathering an intimate groove, with lush, breathy harmonies, quietly whispering long-form, nostalgic melodies, and concepts that feel poignantly relatable. Dovetail unite smart poetic references with deep personal uncertainty, for the blissful escapism of raining here, too.
LA songwriter and artist Simona Shao blends acoustic and contemporary pop qualities through a softly evocative realm, and the results are sublime. Her latest three-track EP Waves presents three parts or chapters of a story, reflecting on the highs and lows of an impactful romance, and balancing calm, poetic imagery and ideas, with personal experiences that feel both relatable and profound.
Conceptually united expressions of love, connected by stylistic threads of reverb and playful design – an aptly-titled artistic corner… Still Haunted presents stories of wonder, nostalgia, and inspiration, with Aren’t All Songs About Love?
The lyrics are in French, but you can translate, or simply feel your way through. The hook is snappy, catchy and both uncertain and conclusive – a quality that highlights the nuance and ability of Zanager’s writing style.
Lyrically vulnerable, melodically uninhibited – almost freeform – musically dreamy for its organic, lightly reverb-washed guitar sound; Orlando songwriter and singer Linndsyeah reflects on interpersonal connections, with I’m Not Her.