Devin Kennedy’s return this month brings a beautifully heartfelt and colourful collection of original songs, the sort that rightfully showcase his intentions and abilities as an artist, as well as deliver the perfect fusion of ambient pop vibes to keep things warm as the winter months settle in.
Pop
Grown up pop with an electro heart, driving rhythm and enough raw emotional connection to melt the most cynical of hearts, Lithium is impressive indeed.
There’s a whole lot of emotion here, and this is what the song is – every aspect works hard to portray the weight of relationship struggles and false impressions.
Beautifully sung and played, Blue is a grown-up delight of a song. Tackling subject matter like this can often be interpreted as indulgent, worthy or mawkish, but Macaco just gets on with the job of putting up a tremendous piece of songwriting and presenting it in the right kind of way. This is going to connect with people.
The fifth and final single to emerge from Rob Alexander’s album Long Road Coming Home is a powerful and rather heartbreaking ode to the late George Michael.
Both Ashni and Mr. Z put their own stamp on the song, leaving listeners with a clear view of them both as artists – and a clear memory of this single as the pop-dance smash that it is.
Blissed-out hip-hop hypnosis doesn’t come more nicely packaged than this. As it is, Iris is an accomplished and engaging instrumental that deserves some extra ingredients.
That Stranger-Things-esque retro synth-bass-line breathes in and out of mix, contrasting with the purity of the sax and the revealing, emotional nature of the vocal. Then comes the beat, a classic crash on the one side, a lower-ended 808-inspired hit on the other.
Structurally thoughtful, classically colourful yet fusing elements of hip hop, RnB and pop in a fresh, contemporary fashion, the single offers up the rhythmic kick of rap alongside of the addictive and anthem-like power of a mighty hook melody.
“Concision is good. Direct is good. But it’s easy to see how this environment can create a sort of fast-food attitude towards songwriting in a pop industry already fully of empty calories.”
Absolutely as described, a fighter till the end, Tali Leda has crafted a fully artistic expression of personal hardship, and all the while presented music fans with a classic pop hit that’s easily immersive and memorable in a subtle, likable way.
Self-mythologising, ethereal, beautiful and accomplished in equal measure, Baby Prime Became Baby Blue is an absolute delight.