The simplicity of an old-school rhythm boldly elevated by a huge modern production and piercingly relatable concept. Peter Lord gifts Prince-like vocals and unrelenting passion, to a cinematic audio explosion (rightfully so), for the enchanting and unforgettable BOOM.
USA
Smart, sharp, comical and clearly authentic bars take things back to the bare essentials – a heavy bass and beat combo depicting an equally retro influence. Lil Jaundice keeps things genuine and raw, with the relentless wordplay and fuzzy late-night recording capture of Chase Of The Year.
Themes of disconnection and lostness resound amidst a juxtaposed musical optimism. Kikimora confront the devaluing of love, with the funky soul and jazz tones of No Loving.
Conceptually united expressions of love, connected by stylistic threads of reverb and playful design – an aptly-titled artistic corner… Still Haunted presents stories of wonder, nostalgia, and inspiration, with Aren’t All Songs About Love?
Acoustic musician and songwriter Summer Redstone leads with a much-welcomed dose of clear authenticity as a modern artist. The sheer feeling and delicate intensity of her two recent singles highlight a sense of talent and purpose in the field, Summer’s voice meandering through long-form melodic musings, backed only by an acoustic guitar, and delivering a fine balance between the familiar and the impressively original.
Catchy melodies and poignant imagery act as deliberate connections between songs, holding up the NYTHM approach to modern writing and production, and delivering an album that’s somewhat dark yet enticing as a modern electronic pop collection. We even get modest twists of hip hop amidst the likes of No Exit Pt. 2, and always the structure of each song feels playful, even theatrical – that Disney-esque sense of character and exploration resounding along the way.
Something conceptually fresh and creatively engaging is hard to come by. Thoughtful reflections, relatable but new, framed in a way that’s distinct but also musically satisfying. Enter Atryp, with a colourful and catchy approach to hip hop, and a storyline built around the globally renowned pain chart found in doctors offices.
To introduce the unique composition style and playing of Parachute Eyes, Thoughts Escaping is ideal. The release opens up with a sincere and distinct, undistorted guitar tone and melody, and sets a likeable groove for around three minutes, before shifting suddenly but fittingly, to a more distorted, power-chord and structurally intense approach.
Modern production tools and relatable writing continue to take hold in the modern music realm, and ever // never’s approach quite seamlessly blends the two. It’s an uplifting ode to and old friend, and the music works its magic with ease. A strong contender for the good vibes and dance playlists this summertime.
Smooth melodies and slick guitar-led arrangements – Carlos Smith Jr. blends storytelling and catchy musicianship, with the five-track Christian rock project Somebody’s Prayin’.
Hard-hitting metal-core of heavy distortion and a relentless tempo, creatively intertwined with a versatile performance of both rap and melody – Afipia reflects upon the curse and opportunity of existence, for Descent.
Comical by nature but far more emotionally rooted by design, Chocolate Cake Is My Lover reflects upon a world gone wrong, and the relatable comfort of sweet food in the face of such struggles.