That opening drop from the instrumental into the spacious vocal verse is gorgeously seductive – that dance-hall melody engages and calms, and as the song progresses it evolves with impeccable skill and emotion; building around you a far more complex and consistently captivating journey.
Music
What you have here is a mash-up of traditional and modern electric instruments that looks risky on paper but sounds great in practice. I’m put in mind of the solo albums by ex-Marillion frontman, Fish, around the time of his Internal Exile album. I wasn’t sure what to expect coming to this fresh, but the accomplishment is undeniable.
Set up to build intensity and musicality from the offset, a simple horn intro leads into a contemporary hip hop beat and a series of accompanying visuals that showcase a thoughtful, intentional story-line.
Featuring crisp, clean, soulful vocals, feeling straight out of a nineties emo-rock outfit, and a soundscape that leans back and forth between acoustic delicacy, theatrical scene setting – complete with a spoken monologue – and dreamlike electronic ambiance, the song is unlike anything else you’re likely to stumble upon of late.
Fresh from their recent and well-loved appearance on Season 15 of The Voice, married duo Adam and Jerome Bell-Bastien – OneUp Duo – emerge with a beautifully heartfelt, passionate and melodically entrancing Christmas ballad.
I did some research on Padana and he has an incredible backstory which makes this album’s achievements even more remarkable than I impart here, but you should check that out for yourselves, as it shouldn’t detract from what the music (notably) delivers alone.
Songwriting stands tall on this one, short lines walk you through a long-form yet rhythmic melody, by means of a surprisingly gentle leading voice – a quality that proves recognisable and unique to the Plastic Barricades sound.
Rock and roll is alive, thriving, and in perfectly safe hands. Solar Strides emerge this season with two singles set to reignite the indie-rock anthem eras – the ones that drew a hearty crowd and offered that raw and real escapism the mainstream just couldn’t provide.
Telling the story of divers watches under the sea, Island Of Tears fuses a reggae rhythm with a chorus of voices and flickers of distorted electric guitar.
Though the vast majority of the lyrics deal with regret and negative reflections on life, what really lingers with you is the simplicity of that line about hope – the lasting image of you (hopefully) opening your door. The song leaves you wondering, but it also leaves you with an air of optimism.
Andon and Opensoul collaborate to bring an entrancing bounce of a beat and some bright, energizing melodies on this latest single.
The trick here is the multitude of vocal and brass hooks over a relentless rhythm that just won’t quit. Appealing female vocals and a smart and sassy beat make for a compelling listen.