Browsing Tag

Alt Indie

Indie sleaze voraciously came back around with Sweet Houdini’s antagonised earworm, Metaphorical Red

Posted on 6 April 2024
Sweet Houdini

Essex’s Sweet Houdini’s latest single, ‘Metaphorical Red‘, opens a temporal gateway back to the anthemics of 90s alt-rock with the swagger and grit that infectiously shakes, rattles, and rolls with a palpable sense of antagonism and volition.

The supersonic and vortexical electronic cuts weave seamlessly around thunderous drums and effect-laden guitars, reminiscent of the Black Keys’ bluesy grooves; this sonic backdrop sets the stage for a snarling confrontation that captivates from the first verse, making ‘Metaphorical Red’ a sludgy earworm that rivals the likes of Mansun.

Sweet Houdini doesn’t just pay homage to the alt-rock era; they reinvent it. Their sound crosses the Atlantic, delivering harsher sonic palettes reminiscent of US Alt Indie. The track is a testament to the band’s ability to channel the spirit of 90s icons like Nirvana and The Smashing Pumpkins, while injecting their unique personality and magnetism.

With ‘Metaphorical Red’, Sweet Houdini has done more than kick up a storm; they’ve choked the atmosphere with a resurgence of indie sleaze. Their energetic live performances, known for authenticity and genuine crowd interaction, mirror the raw emotion and energy of this track. It’s a bold statement in the alt-rock scene, proving that Sweet Houdini is not just a band to watch, but a force to be reckoned with.

Check out Metaphorical Red when it drops on April 5th on Sweet Houdini’s official website.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Lucy Wroe delivered cultivated consolation in her allegory of heartbreak, Heartbeat Wipers

Posted on 5 April 2024

The Last Dinner Party may have faced a massive backlash after declaring that people want artful escapism instead of post-punk expositions on the cost-of-living crisis, but with her latest single, Heartbeat Wipers, the London-based singer-songwriter, Lucy Wroe, who describes herself as a lovechild of Jessie Ware and the Weeknd, made a compelling case for the catharsis of artfully composed productions.

Every element, from the ornate piano keys to the brooding basslines and the increasing intensity of the synths, in Heartbeat Wipers amplifies the emotional theme of finding strength in independence after losing the person you lent on the most. From the ethereal grace of the intro to the disquietness when the instrumental arrangement amasses intricate all-consuming complexities, each progression is a new chapter in the redemption story that everyone, on some level, can relate to.

The haunting reprise of ‘The same goodbye a million times and I…’ underpins the aura of mourning within the release without overbearing it, ensuring that Heartbeat Wipers, which started with a sample of the mechanical swipes of windscreen wipers batting away torrential rain, is as consoling as it is cultivated.

Heartbeat Wipers was officially released on April 5th; stream the single on SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Luke Meyn delivered an indie psych dream you’ll never want to wake up from with ‘When It’s Over’

Posted on 24 March 2024

Embark on an indie synth odyssey with the Brisbane, Australia-hailing artist Luke Meyn’s debut single, When It’s Over; finality has never sounded so sweet. Meyn covered the entire spectrum of emotion in this seminally blissful release which proves that endings don’t always need to necessitate bitterness.

The soundscape became the perfect vessel to carry the tenderly expressed emotional themes. The way the psychedelic layers rove through the scintillating cosmos of the production that bleeds all the intimacy of Grandaddy and Yo La Tengo while delivering the same transcendently kaleidoscopic colour of The Beatles and all of the arcane air of Mercury Rev ensures that When It’s Over sonically swallows you whole and transports you to another dimension.

With the promise that no two songs from Luke Meyn are the same, we’re equal parts gutted we can’t anticipate another single in the same vein as When It’s Over and stoked to hear what is to come from the artist who takes a spontaneous approach to song crafting by following his muse, wherever they may roam.

When It’s Over was officially released on March 16th; stream the single on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Messy Mike – Things Are Crazy: An Alt-Indie Remedy to the Malady of Modernity.

Posted on 21 March 2024

Messy Mike used the cinematic sheen of neo-doo-wop to add transcendent melodic ascendence to his vintage-toned alt-indie rock allegory of how darkness permeates the psyches of us all – regardless of how hard we endeavour to push away the shadows of ennui.

Things Are Crazy goes beyond unravelling as a sonic sign of the times, the kaleidoscopically colourful release that will be a hit with any fans of The Strokes goes one strident step further to deliver vindication and salvation in the same rhythmic breath.

Regardless of how much we know that this dystopia dogs us all, that doesn’t get in the way of bringing our sanity into question; if you can relate, Things Are Crazy will give you all the answers you’re looking for; sift through the layered instrumentals, gentle acoustics and sweeping organs and hone in on the soulfully caressing vocal lines for a remedy to the malady of modernity.

Stream Things Are Crazy on Spotify now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

The Elegant Chasers explored the trappings and torment of addiction with their maniacal alt-rock hit, The Hungry Ghost

Posted on 15 March 2024
The Elegant Chasers

You’d be forgiven for thinking that Mike Patton had formed a new side project after being exposed to the vocal dynamism and tightly controlled instrumental chaos in the latest single, The Hungry Ghost, from the London-based alt-rock originators, The Elegant Chasers.

The franticly alchemic production which echoes 90s Britpop and grunge entices you in through the urgency as the James Dean Bradfield-esque guitars shimmer and act as an anchor in the tumultuous storm brewed by the rhythm section. The lack of restraint is a conceptual sonic visualisation of the nefariousness of addiction, which the volatile lyrics explore influenced by the work of Gabor Mate.

There was no forgetting The Elegant Chasers after getting acquainted through their previous release, Running Around the Sun, but The Hungry Ghost is a million maniacal miles away from the mash-up of indie, Britpop and Psych Rock. It’s safe to say The Elegant Chasers can stop running because they’ve arrived at exactly where they need to be with The Hungry Ghost.

The Hungry Ghost will be officially released on March 15; stream and purchase the single on Bandcamp.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

The Stanford Family Band – On My Holiday: A Riotously Sunlit Escapade Through the Intersections of Indie, Garage Rock, and Motown

Posted on 13 March 2024

The Stanford Family Band, following their debut ‘Love Me A Bit‘, have returned with ‘On My Holiday‘, a single that radiates with the warmth of a supernova. This track, a part of their upcoming 6-track EP ‘For Your Listening Pleasure’, is a vibrant testament to the Brighton-based band’s endlessly euphoric sonic identity.

From the first note, ‘On My Holiday’ is an immersion in a riotously colourful explosion of kaleidoscopic fervency. The vintage production, reminiscent of Ray Charles’ ‘Mess Around’, is a masterful blend of bluesy piano grooves and Beach Boys-esque harmonies. The trailblazers could never be as pedestrian as solely nodding to the past; with this release, they reimagined the aural ecstasy of a bygone era, tailored for today’s indie and garage rock enthusiasts.

Frontman Elliot Stanford’s captivating lead vocals, coupled with the band’s commitment to complex four-part harmonies and memorable melodic hooks resulted in a quirky upbeat odyssey through a bittersweet vignette, which affirmed that in the death of winter, the sun is just around the corner.

Elliot’s approach to songwriting, as he describes, is an exercise in balancing musical joy with lyrical melancholy, a juxtaposition reminiscent of the Beach Boys circa 1965. ‘On My Holiday’ is the embodiment of this philosophy, musically exuberant yet lyrically introspective.

On My Holiday was released via Goo Records on February 27th and is now available to stream on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Leyton Thomas treaded water in the pool of pathology with the indie dream-pop etherealism in his latest single, ‘Screwcap Diet’

Posted on 7 March 2024

Leyton Thomas, with his latest single ‘Screwcap Diet‘, transcended the typical boundaries of indie dream pop. The Manchester-based solo artist skilfully merged influences from Mazzy Star to Sigur Ros, Radiohead to the Verve around his own authentically cultivated sonic signature.

The journey through the complex interplay of health, mindfulness, and the human condition stands out for its hauntingly beautiful guitar work, which weaves an ethereally melancholic narrative. The soft falsetto vocals add a layer of intimacy, making the exploration of our often-neglected appreciation for health all the more poignant. This song wrestles with the shadows of sickness, yet it’s not just about the struggle; it’s a revelation of the enlightenment found in moments of vulnerability.

Thomas’ artistic journey is marked by a fearless blending of genres, a testament to his courage and distinction as an artist. His previous work, including the hip-hop instrumental ‘I Forgot You At The Bottom of the Fridge‘, has already showcased his ability to resonate with a wide audience, amassing significant streams on Spotify. ‘Screwcap Diet’ is a continuation of this sonic exploration.

Thomas’ musical evolution is a narrative of constant reinvention. From his early days in London to his current place in the Manchester scene, his exposure to a diverse range of music has profoundly influenced his sound.

Leyton Thomas Said

“This release is – after a period of digital experimentation – a return to the melodic guitar music that I grew up with. Lyrically, it reflects a feeling that arguably every single human being experiences – that when you are ill, be it seriously ill or plagued with a common cold, everything superficial seems insignificant, and all you wish for is your health. It poses the question, who are we when we are left with just our mind and tired body?”

After being recorded in Leyton Thomas’ home studio and mixed by Will Levison, Screwcap Diet hit all major streaming platforms on February 27th.

Stream Screwcap Diet on Spotify.

Follow Leyton Thomas on Instagram.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

San Ílios delivered retro-indie nostalgia as you’ve never known it before in ‘Wanderlust’

Posted on 7 March 2024

For their sophomore single, the up-and-coming alt-indie duo San Ílios explored a phenomenon that everyone can relate to; Wanderlust unfurls with sonic visualisations of freedom flowing throughout the indie-folk-pop production which cuts through various avenues of retro-indie nostalgia. Imagine an evocative synthesis of Radiohead, Modest Mouse and Coldplay, and you’ll get an idea of what kind of soundscape you will escape into when you hit play.

The vocal harmonies are as light and airy as the instrumentals that meld strident horn stabs with the steady ring of acoustic guitar strings, piano pop melodies and scintillatingly artful effects that allow Wanderlust to veer into art rock territory. By drawing influence from Keane, Arcade Fire, and U2, the UK-residing up-and-coming outfit gave their growing fanbase a taste of the familiar before feeding them swathes of ingenuity that will undoubtedly see them go far after the launch of their debut album.

Wanderlust was officially released on February 4th; stream the single on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Strange Tides chartered a voyage into indie ingenuity with ‘Out of Deep Waters’

Posted on 6 March 2024

Out of Deep Waters by Strange Tides, extracted from their Differentiation EP, is a striking illustration of indie music’s boundless potential. This multifaceted single is a masterful fusion of Grandaddy-esque synth melodies, crunchy grungy guitars, and an air of theatrical piano pop. It embodies the instrumental grandiosity of a rock opera while maintaining the intimacy of a bedroom indie pop track, presenting a revelation in experimentalism.

Kirsten Bale, the principal architect behind Strange Tides, based in Vancouver, BC, demonstrates her expansive musical vision and her folkish poetic eloquence in this sweetly sentimental track. Her role as both a songwriter and a producer, alongside sound engineer Dan Ponich, is evident in the meticulous crafting of this piece.

Bale’s relentless pursuit of new musical territories, experimenting with instruments, chord patterns, and genres, ensures a constantly engaging and fresh listening experience. For fans of Mitski and Lucy Dacus, Out of Deep Waters is an irresistible draw. The track exudes a sense of joy and creative liberation, evident in its playful composition style that knows no bounds. It’s an aural elixir, inviting listeners to savour its unique blend of sounds time after time. As for the lyricism, it could leave any of the great romantics weak at the knees.

Out of Deep Waters was officially released on February 15th; stream and purchase the single on all major platforms via this link.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Suni blended harmony, hope and heartbreak in his alt-indie dreamscape, Cherry

Posted on 5 March 2024

Suni’s sophomore single, Cherry, captivates with a cathartically melodious blend of dream pop, ethereal trip-hop, and 8Bit-esque synthpop, marking a distinct evolution from his debut single, At the heart of things, moving beyond the nostalgia of Elliott Smith and the influence of The 1975, into a realm uniquely his own.

In Cherry, the Edinburgh-hailing artist crafted a soundscape that reaches the epitome of mellow intricacy. The track synthesises its influences without becoming a mere pastiche, showcasing Steven’s skill in blending genres. The instrumental layers are a rich, future-forward tapestry; there’s an 8Bit charm which twines with sophisticated, ethereal synths, creating a backdrop that’s both nostalgically retro and cutting-edge.

The vocal harmonies are a standout feature. Light yet laden with emotion, his voice weaves through the Cigarettes After Sex-esque production, delivering lyrics that explore the complexities of affection and self-identity; it’s a lyrical journey that is fated to resonate with listeners, encouraging authenticity and introspection.

As he continues to evolve and refine his musical identity, Suni is far from a work in progress, he is already one to watch in the alt-indie-pop scene.

Cherry fell from the tree and onto the airwaves on February 23rd; stream the single on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast