Browsing Tag

Alternative

Robert Stone croons through the cosmic veil in this funked-up alt-rock rendezvous, Kissing Glass

Posted on 17 January 2024

Navigating through the cosmic corridors of sound, Robert Stone’s latest single, ‘Kissing Glass’, is a celestial journey, taken via the route of a harmonious blend of spacey funk and alternative rock, laced with a synth-infused new wave vibe that boldly steps beyond the shadows of Bowie-esque influences, showcasing Stone’s unique musical identity.

Stone, known for his early start in the music scene with Oblivion Grin and his intriguing hiatus, has returned not just to the studio but to the very essence of musical innovation. ‘Kissing Glass’ is a testament to this voyage, a fusion of his seasoned artistry with a fresh, modern sensibility. The track resonates with echoes of the interstellar bliss found in Inspiral Carpets’ ‘Saturn 5’ and the dark, experimental tones of Magazine’s ‘Real Life’, yet it stands firmly on its own artistic ground.

The song’s structure is a labyrinth of auditory pleasure, where each turn reveals a new layer of musical gravitas as Robert Stone’s crooning vocal performance is a revelation in itself. The charm and dedication to being a conduit of space pop-soul is an alchemic pairing which won’t fail to endear you to his experimentalism. We can’t wait to hear what follows.

Stream Kissing Glass on SoundCloud now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Suedejazz Collective broke jazz-fusion boundaries with ‘Spinal Chord’, ft Louie Le Vack & LEYLAH

Posted on 16 January 2024

Suedejazz Collective assembled once more to create their sophomore single, Spinal Chord and brought Louie Le Vack & LEYLAH into the fold to orchestrate an unflinching foray into the darker side of contemporary jazz-fusion.

The intro sees piano keys sway against the rigorous drum fills and fervid horns before sultry RnB vocal lines, perfectly pitched by LEYLA, become a demure anchor in the track, but it isn’t long before there’s another seamless yet breakneck transition in the exhilarant feat of genre fusion. Hip-hop often borrows timbres from jazz, but Suedejazz Collective reverse-engineered the fusion by bringing in Louis Le Vack’s rap bars that bite down hard on the psyche over the synthesis of electronica fervour to effortlessly complement the ensnaring alchemy which grooves through the release.

There aren’t many jazz-inclined outfits that can transcend the fusionist flair of Melt Yourself Down and Acoustic Ladyland, but the energy and attitude which charges through Spinal Chord is set to seal the London-based multicultural collective’s fate as unrivalled conduits of experimentalism. The uniqueness of their sonic blueprint goes beyond edgy pretension. It opens up viscerally constructive arenas of sound that you’ll want to feel the heat of time after time. Forget the smoky jazz you’ve inhaled before. Spinal Chord is a wildfire in the form of a riptide.

Stream Spinal Chord on all major platforms via this link.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

the LVP delivered dejection driven through fervid volition in their math-rock-meets-post-hardcore release, Deepest, Darkest

Posted on 11 January 2024

Don’t let the humility in the Brooklyn-based fourpiece’s self-deprecating description of a “remedial math rock band” fool you; the LVP pioneered a meticulously crafted labyrinth of sound with their sophomore single, Deepest, Darkest, which fuses the rhythmic unpredictability of math rock with the electrifying rancour of post-hardcore. The single will throw all your preconceptions of math rock by the wayside with the prolific instrumental hooks which plunge you deeper into the confessionally candid antagonism.

Deepest, Darkest is a testament to the LVP’s lack of fear when delving into the depths of musical and emotional prowess. It is a viscerally intense masterclass in controlled chaos. The guitar lines, intricate and compelling, create a tapestry of sound that ensnares the listener, while the bass growls and drum rhythms punch through with relentless energy.

The band’s approach to math rock eschews genre norms for a sound that’s both innovative and deeply personal. The result is a track that’s as much a journey through the band’s musical landscape as it is a reflection of their inner turmoil.

The single’s emotional core is its greatest strength. It’s a cathartic release of pent-up emotions that resonates with anyone who’s ever felt the weight of dejection. The band’s ability to channel their feelings into a sound that’s both aggressive and melodic is a testament to their skill as musicians and storytellers.

Deepest, Darkest was officially released on December 15th, ahead of the LVP’s eponymous EP, which will hit all major streaming platforms on January 19th. Discover the LVP on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

ATR unleashed a gritty punk rock anthem of disillusionment with their latest single, Nothing Left to Say, ft Kellii Scott

Posted on 8 January 2024

ATR’s latest single, Nothing Left to Say, featuring the formidable Kellii Scott on skins, is a visceral journey into the underbelly of grungy punk rock. This raw, unfiltered expression of disappointment and betrayal, wrapped in a rancorous alt-90s aesthetic is as cathartic as it is evocatively ensnaring.

The song’s energetic guitar licks are reminiscent of Green Day’s as a contrast to the production and attitude, underpinned by the cutting, gritty edge of Leftover Crack.  It’s a powerful outpour of rage directed at the kind of people we all have the displeasure of knowing. The ones who turn away when you need them most and leave you to contend with the betrayal confounding the circumstances which compelled you to seek comfort within them. It’s a tale as old as time, yet one that makes us feel deeply alone when it is being told – ATR tore through the misconception that we are isolated in this alienation.

ATR, led by frontman Jesse, who recently triumphed over Stage 4 Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, channels this newfound lease on life into their music. The band’s transition to a new studio space has injected a fresh wave of inspiration and motivation, evident in the quality and intensity of Nothing Left to Say, which is augmented by Kellii Scott’s rhythmic furore to enhance the mercilessness in the tone.

Nothing Left to Say will rile up the airwaves on January 5th. Stream it on SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Slip into a rock noir fever dream with Call to the Void’s latest single, Blow

Posted on 5 January 2024

South London’s Call to the Void delivered a smorgasbord of style in their synthesis of garage rock, proto-punk, post-punk, and grunge in the track they crashed onto our radar with earlier this year. Their previous release, Uncontrollable, was one thing; their latest fervid feat, Blow, is another entirely. The vice-like rhythmic grip will drag you down the shadowy rabbit hole in the rock n roll fever dream, where a séance is held with the sonic aesthetic of Jim Morrison, Cobain, and Lux Interior.

By driving innovation through the rancorously electric vintage tones between the melodic increments used to ensnare you in the jaws of their shaking, rattling, and rolling cultivated panache, there’s no getting out of Blow alive once you experience the dark rock noir atmosphere, which twists and turns on a knife edge to impale you on the spikes of innovation that proliferate this nefariously dark hit.

Blow will be available to stream on all major platforms from January 5th, following the pre-release on Bandcamp.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Call to the Void

Leah Nawy has unleashed her iconic indie pop rock playlist staple, Friend of Mine

Posted on 3 January 2024

We’ve been obsessed with the NYC pop rock pioneer Leah Nawy ever since sinking into her lusciously groove-pocketed debut single, NUISANCE, which has racked up over 46k streams on Spotify alone since its release in 2023. In the opening verses of her sophomore single, Friend of Mine, the singer-songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist exhibited a softer and more vulnerable side in her confessional release which alludes to how opening yourself up to people is only priming for the scars that will be left when you inevitably part ways.

When there’s little to separate realism and pessimism after life experiences have taught you that optimism is the outlook of the naïve, sentiments which unravel with the same pensive sting as the lyrics in Friend of Mine are inevitable. Yet, by the time the track reaches the midway mark, it transcends into a soulful power ballad before metamorphosising into an indie rock anthem for the disenfranchised but tenacious despite the bruises masses.

By bursting the bubblegum pop bubble with spikes of cultivated indie rock, the melancholy within Friend of Mine adopted a brand-new ferocity as an attestation to how you can reflect on your shortcomings without falling into a trap of self-pity. With a voice as indomitable as Lady Gaga fused with a cutting-edge indie pop rock signature sound, she’s a rare artist whose work merits her being referred to as an icon. We can’t wait to hear what follows.

Friend of Mine was officially released on December 22. Stream it on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Post-hardcore meets hip hop in SEER SEEKER’s viscerally bruising standout release, GONE TOO LONG

Posted on 2 January 2024

Post-hardcore meets nu-metal and creates friction with hard-hitting hip-hop in the standout cinematic mash-up, GONE TOO LONG, from the hotly anticipated debut album TO THE CORE, from SEER SEEKER.

For the seminal track from the LP, SEER SEEKER took the foundation laid by Linkin Park and launched it into a brand-new scintillating atmosphere, which channels the same tumultuous visceralism as ground-breaking artists in the vein of Wage War, Polaris, and Fit for a King. While some artists are content getting up to speed with the contemporary curve, others are palpably determined to sit on a plateau above it. SEER SEEKER is definitively in the latter camp.

High-octane enigmatic energy courses through the electrifying release as SEER SEEKER uses every ounce of their volition to make the weight of the lyricism cascade with bruising and deeply affecting impact. Between the cross-appeal of the monolithic aesthetic and the up-and-coming artist’s maniacally larger-than-life charisma, you’d be hard-pressed to find a more promising breakthrough post-hardcore artist on the airwaves right now.

TO THE CORE was officially released on December 22. Stream it in full on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Nuka-Naka – Stone D: A Soul-Stirring Fusion of Avant-Garde Reggae and Reflection

Posted on 1 January 2024

Nuka-Naka’s latest single, Stone D, is a profound musical journey that transcends the conventional boundaries of reggae. As Nuka-Naka steps away from the shadows of war-torn Russia, Stone D emerges as a hauntingly beautiful confession, a blend of personal history and musical innovation.

The song reimagines reggae, intertwining staccato rhythms with melancholically avant-garde melodies. It’s a bold departure from reggae roots, inviting listeners to cast aside their preconceptions and embrace a new realm of musical expression. After leaving Russia for Georgia, Nuka-Naka composed a guilt-ridden soliloquy that speaks to the inescapable ties of one’s homeland, regardless of the physical distance.

The song captures the essence of being perpetually connected to a war that continues to echo in a mournful psyche as the fusion of soulful blues and dreamy art-rock elements meld into this candid piece creating a sonic signature that is as evocative as it is ground-breaking.

Nuka-Naka’s Stone D is a reminder of the power of music to transcend barriers and speak to the soul. It’s a track that not only showcases Nuka-Naka’s immense talent but also promises a future rich with innovative and emotionally resonant music. For those seeking a fresh, soul-stirring sound, Stone D is a beacon of hope and artistic brilliance.

Stone D was officially released on December 22. Stream the single on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Slip into a chorally Lynchian delirium with Milk Bar Gang’s latest orchestration, The Accident

Posted on 31 December 2023

Hitting play on the latest single, The Accident, from Milk Bar Gang, you’d be forgiven for thinking you’ve slipped into a chorally Lynchian delirium as you allow the cultivated hazy dream pop tones to wash over you, submerging you in ethereal Avant-Garde surrealism.

The song’s sonic landscape is a complex tapestry, weaving together elements of Shoegaze’s choral dreaminess and the experimental edge reminiscent of Glenn Branca while the incorporation of jazzy rhythms and darkwave elements contribute to its rich and diverse texture.

Lyrically and thematically, The Accident delves into profound concepts. It reflects on the uncontrollable circumstances of birth and the ensuing struggle against oppression, as well as the emergence of resistance. This philosophical depth is matched by the music’s atmospheric synths and sharp guitar riffs, underlined by a rhythm section that couldn’t be further from archetypal. The unsettling melodies and chord progressions further enhance its impact, creating a sound that is simultaneously bleak and beautiful.

Recorded at home and refined by professionals in Melbourne, the single is a testament to Milk Bar Gang’s commitment to their craft. The band, formed in 2021 by Felix Chapple and Bianca Cao, brings a diverse range of influences and experiences. Chapple’s history with various Melbourne bands and musicians, combined with Cao’s background in dance and visual art from Beijing, contribute to the unique identity of Milk Bar Gang. If this is how they chose to end 2023, we’re aching to hear the artfully cohesive orchestrations that are lurking in the pipelines.

The Accident will debut on New Year’s Eve; hear it on SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Master Splinter took their stoner rock sound into an arcane new realm in ‘Dragon’s Blood’

Posted on 30 December 2023

Master Splinter, the Portland-based hard rock powerhouse, has unleashed a storming renegade of a track with Dragon’s Blood, which opens the gateway into the realms of arcane fantasy and fiction, a territory where bands like Gwar and Nekrogoblikon have previously ventured, but Master Splinter carves out their own unique path with an anthem of escapism and empowerment.

The powerful and melodic vocals tie the whole ensemble together, creating a sound that is both classic and refreshingly innovative. Songwriters, Mick Arrell and Jason Schauer, have a knack for weaving epic stories, using metaphorical characters and scenarios to express complex emotions and experiences in a way that is both clever and subtle – perfectly exemplified in Dragon’s Blood.

The track itself is a journey through a fantastical landscape, where the tales of prevailing against adversity are enough to psyche up any listener to smite their challenges. It is stoner rock perfection from a band that continues to adorn our radar with riff-charged insanity, and we eagerly anticipate what they will conjure up next.

Dragon’s Blood dripped onto the airwaves on December 15; stream it on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast