Browsing Tag

Abba

From Envy to Altruism: The Rhythmic Rapture of Lemonade Sin’s New Single, Having A Better Time

Posted on 22 May 2024

The London/Devon-based indie quintet Lemonade Sin is an elixir we always look forward to pouring; they’re just as euphonically delicious as ever in their latest nostalgia-quenching cocktail, Having A Better Time taken from their forthcoming album, Deadly Sins.

Having A Better Time puts the 6th deadly sin, envy, under a scrupulous lens to vindicate anyone who has revealed a friend as a foe through the glow of jealousy while simultaneously drenching you in the new wave of era and genre-spanning rhythmic rapture.

The chameleonic guitars progress from winding blues into the stellar production to delivering a rancorously brashy standoff against disingenuous protagonists to raising the energy in the jangle pop choruses, working in seamless synergy with the ABBA-esque keys which inject elation into a bittersweet allegory of how being blind with envy and social media-imparted FOMO is an efficacious way of ensuring your world is rooted in negativity and moral decay. Yet, instead of chastising the envious, Lemonade Sin chose a sweet not sour approach to remind listeners of the bliss which lies in altruism; you just can’t help surrendering to the soul in the lush dualling harmonies

Having A Better Time was officially released on May 17; stream the single on Spotify or purchase the single on Bandcamp.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Robert John Hanson is affectingly arcane in his latest single, Blown Away, ft Stephanie Lottridge

Posted on 17 December 2023

Tissues at the ready for Robert John Hanson’s new single, Blown Away, which melodically unravels as a poignant and intricately crafted piece that resonates with depth of emotion and musical sophistication.

Born in the same city that birthed The Beatles, Hanson’s British roots are palpable in this track, which is tinged with the intimate storytelling reminiscent of Cat Stevens’ Father and Son and magnetised by the melodic allure of ABBA, all wrapped in an 80s-inspired production. Blown Away is a masterful blend of influences, carrying the arcane charm of Fleetwood Mac while maintaining a unique identity.

The mournful thematic elements of the song are delivered with a raw honesty that strikes a chord with the listener. Stephanie Lottridge’s rich and emotive vocals weave through the melody, capturing the melancholy and introspection of the lyrics which contend with the loss of dreams and monotony of reality. This depth is a hallmark of Hanson’s work, as seen in his previous album, The Bitter Suite, and continues to be a compelling aspect of his music.

As we anticipate his upcoming album, Sessions, this single stands as a powerful preview of what’s to come from the talented artist.

Blown Away breezed onto the airwaves on the 20th of October. Stream it on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

The Fountains of Paradise has made an interstellar indie space pop debut with Forgotten Man.

Posted on 28 October 2021

With their if-they-got-enough-exposure-they-would-probably-start-a-cult-and-it-would-be-the-best-thing-ever vibe, it is safe to say that we instantly warmed to The Fountains of Paradise through their single, Forgotten Man, which features on their debut album, Let the People.

The Yorkshire-born, Buckinghamshire-based singer-songwriter’s spacey indie bedroom pop track starts with uplifting ABBA-Esque chords before the sonic palette transitions into an avant-garde arrangement of orchestral strings pulling against the electro-pop instrumentals. Plenty of the accordance in the single comes from the singer-songwriter’s elegantly gentle vocals that tenderly relay the playfully melancholic lyrics.

Forgotten Man does little in the way of subverting reality; it becomes escapism music all the same for the way it leaves you caught up in the witty attack on nihilism and mortality redundancy. For four minutes, blackened souls will feel right at home.

You can add Forgotten Man to your playlists on Spotify, or you can check out the official music video on YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

The London-based singer-songwriter Lilo has released her hypnotic hyper-synth-pop single, Everything I Ever Dreamed of.

Posted on 22 October 2021

London-based singer-songwriter, Lilo, is set to release her 80s synthpop anthem, Everything I Ever Dreamed Of, which brings hyper pop energy, sweet ABBA-Esque piano chords and artful vocal timbre that allows you to imagine how Florence and the Machine would have turned out as an 80s synth-pop outfit.

Under the lush layers of reverb, the dancey beats boast a hypnotic texture, making Everything I Ever Dreamed of the perfect multi-functional indie pop playlist staple.

I’ve heard my fair share of contemporary twists on the 80s sound in the last year; it is safe to say that none left me as enlivened by the ingenuity as Everything I Ever Dreamed of which is due for official release on October 22nd, 2021.

Check out Lilo on her official website, Instagram and SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast