The California sound is alive and well, and there’s no better time to delve in and appreciate the uplift and musicianship of this professionally crafted, largely cheerful collection.
Pop Rock
Refreshingly bass-led to begin with and somewhat capturing a fine balance between freestyling and a catchy set of riffs – BATES energise with chaos and calm united, for Catalyst.
Free from the confines of expectation or even genre, guided entirely by a heartfelt connection to the therapeutic process of making music – Darren Middleton’s album HOME makes for a sublime and striking listen.
Capturing affection from the outset with a cleanly-mixed and hypnotically rhythmic vocal lead; somewhat akin to the sound of The Cat Empire, but with a twist of classic indie rock.
Love Game is chaotic yet colourful, hypnotic and catchy but non-intrusive – feeling like both a rise-and-fall classic and an alternative, occasionally freestyle-seeming expression of true angst and uncertainty.
Rainy Thursdays were made for this kind of enchanting rock arrangement – D2UR drown out the noise of the world, with the beautifully melodic, organic and mighty Remember My Name.
Perhaps his finest project to date, Hey It’s Not Just Me brings things back down to the ground, for a deeply moving look at the many thoughts and feelings that haunt us as humans.
An indie anthem with a smooth dash of soul and pop to light up the outer edges and ultimately deliver a mainstream-ready, genre-free or uninhibited song.
From the creative who brought us Robot Raven, WHISTLEWIT is the multi-faceted new ID, delivering memories of what many considered a simpler, happier time, through the Sunflower ’69 album.
Mike Kennedy connects and impresses with ease, as the leading single from his upcoming EP Grass Is Greener hits the scene with confidence, skill, passion and power.
Starting the new year with outstretched arms, Sarantos delivers a much-needed embrace for those feeling lost or alone as 2023 washes through.
Were You Even There begs for you to listen more than once – this recognisable, questioning call-out and the timeless simplicity of the melody uniting effortlessly with the calm, organic rock set-up beside it.