Pretend You finely captures the essence of existing somewhere between the familiar and the unknown – a quality apparent in both style and topic. The folk-esque freedom is refreshing, the guitar-play is stunning – and all the more impressive for its humble placing in the mix – and the songwriting is genuinely original.
Indie Pop
Taiwanese artist and producer 旋林Rowens presents a uniquely passionate yet dreamy fusion of ambient design and pure, unfiltered pop-rock, with the profound and poetic single 紫紅色玫瑰（Purple Red Rose).
Colorful indie-pop with a strong groove and organic warmth is quick to appeal – fellow Mancunians SPIN KLASS bring a touch of poetic wonder and inspiring self-kindness, for This Is Love.
浮世幻想 (Floating World Fantasy) offers up an impressive collection of songs, effectively both familiar and fresh in everything from structure to the subtle character and faultless ability of the soulful, mildly raspy but still comfortingly smooth leading voice.
Encapsulating the purpose of the album as an art-form, Stokerstl presents a cinematic and intricate journey, disguised as a fine collection of indie-pop songs both organic and catchy, for the naturally memorable, thought-provoking Programmed to Exist.
Canadian Indie Folk gems Campfire Sigh light up the room in an instant, with the multi-layered harmonies and soulful organic embrace of their latest EP Mother Brown & Other Assorted Chestnuts.
“Love your friends and family. Tell them you love them. Enjoy the window of time you have on earth we call life.”
Effectively bridging the gap between unplugged trip hop, live rock and the likes of the xx, How Do You Do It Without Making It Nauseatingly Extravagant quietly speaks out on the implications of its title.
“My goal is to find my authentic self through music. There is so much I would love to achieve in this industry but finding and presenting myself honestly through music is the goal.”
Easily one of the most engaging indie projects of the year so far, fellow Mancunian and long-time songwriter T.R. Burge follows up his vastly-praised debut release God Ache, with the sublime and poetically powerful new EP Selling You.
An acoustic backbone wrapped in colourful synths, keys, rhythms and harmonies – Aza Brown’s upbeat songwriting and purity as an indie artist shines brightly.
Something like Shoe-gaze with a twist of Grunge, open humanity and heart topped off with an hypnotically looping hook that’s simple, chaotic and an undeniable ear-worm.