To counter the influx of intimate, mellow Christmas ballads this year, iconic indie punk outfit King Of Cups take a contrary stance as ever, introducing a high-octane Christmas rock song that’s both lyrically and musically at odds with the vast majority.
Indie Rock
Letting the music guide, through a series of deeply personal reflections on adulthood and uncertainty about progression in life. Ziggy Lebon captures the enchanting mood of indie rock and shoegaze’s past, with the three-track EP FOOA (Fear Of Old Age).
Nineties-inspired indie guitar music, led by honest reflections and stories on daily life – Mexican creative Estrogeno blends the softness of singer-songwriter contemplation, with the raw energy of rock, for a series of original tracks.
Step into nostalgia and feel the embrace and uplift, as songwriter and artist Eamonn J delivers a beautifully poetic and heartfelt ode to organic indie expression.
Music to Bruno Marinho has forever been a therapeutic form of escapism. The focus and emotional resetting of the creative process is often what makes for the most engaging and interesting music, and that’s absolutely the case with the freedom and allure of Worlds Unseen.
There’s an intriguing vagueness to some of these lyrics, especially given the quiet mix, but always we’re gifted a satisfying hook resolve – a broader statement and light melody, to leave us with a strong sense of possibility and calm than anything else. Authenticity seems to be the driving force throughout the Come Along EP, and by employing that without concern, Scott Keesler has drifted down a road that’s entirely his own.
Somewhat akin to the likes of the indie rock emergence of two decades ago, the vocal lead for this Faithful Tragedy single feels mildly reminiscent of Pete Doherty, a kind of tired, dreary but evocative and delicate approach, with just enough grit to feel genuinely consumed by this sense of missing someone.
Reinventing the song that brought Miley Cyrus her very first Grammy, creative artist Svain completely reinvents the classic pop single Flowers, with this distorted and barely recognisable rock cover.
Instantly an indie-nostalgic gem for those with strong connections to a simpler era – Soft Yes bring back the quiet and canned vocals, quickly-picked guitar notes, and hyper-active rhythms, with the upbeat but delicate and surprisingly brief Odd Numbers.
Chas Leman first hit the radar with the evocative and poignant yet anthemic single The Last Boys To Be Picked at Football. The artist introduced a great sense of melodic-riff building, energy, and topical nostalgia that was quick to appeal.
Now we get to hear the true versatility of that approach, this old-school Brit Pop and Rock aura that’s rooted in stories and a broad range of influences.
Originality and intrigue, conceptual depth and purpose, presented in a kind of hazy, nostalgic grunge softness initially, later evolving through heavy production and effects. viceservices accesses the depths of our shared existence, with the bold and evocative heretic.
An elusive Signs of Paradise keep things exclusively about the music – a refreshing quality, and one that shines beautifully throughout the humble and catchy indie-rock collection that is their self-titled album.