Big beats quietly mixed, soulful fragments and melodies presenting a mellow and immersive realm of imagery and contemplation. Good Spells returns this season with a beautifully humble, poetic balancing of delicacy and depth, for All In.
UK--Europe
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.
The deciding factor is not always just my enjoyment of the track, sometimes it helps to note the response of others who hear it playing. My three-year-old son is not easy to please musically, but as I turned this one up loud, he ran into the room dancing, and openly declared it ‘his favourite song’. Strangely enough, it quickly became mine, too.
From inspiration amidst Daft Punk to The Chemical Brothers, Jax presents an eclectic and well-versed understanding of the history of electronic music. We get fragments of nineties influence for nostalgia, the 2000s then leaning all the way to the current sound and shape of mainstream dance.
The UK’s own Kath Moskvina, an indie-rock musician with a twist of electronic and cinematic design to her sound, stands tall on the strength of contemplative and grunge-like integrity and depth, throughout the engaging and impressively unique single Outsider.
Psychedelic dark metal with a creative twist of progressive musicianship and intriguing conceptual depth – UK five-piece Hookjaw pour their heart and soul into the process, along with a sheer and superb level of musical ability.
The UK’s own SEQUO, a Progressive House and Melodic Techno aficionado of our time, captures a fine balance between ambient warmth and euphoric energy, with the latest intoxicating fusion of layers that is Highways & Streetlights.
Dance Bros is built around a theatrical realm of expression and tribal rhythms, a new voice and sense of character backed by a distinct and rhythmic production of both cinematic and subtly quirky traits.
Smooth vibes, great vocals and dreamy production light up the catchy afro fusion single Go Your Way, from rising artist MAV1NN.
Intertwining political integrity and conscious bars both confronting and personal, Smoke&Bones essentially achieves a fine balance between the sheer confidence of Hip Hop and the more purposeful undertones of independent rap and songwriting that stands the test of time.
Beautifully intoxicating purely on the surface of this dreamy and reverb-drenched arena of contemplation, Dance With Darkness is impossible to ignore, yet it’s also impressively modest and calm in its confrontational realism.
The desperation and search for connection is profound and powerful, making this a boldly unique and impactful new single, from an artist whose next step is forever impossible to predict.