Browsing Tag

Ambient Indie

Aegra prescribed synth-woven solace in her latest release, Six Hands

‘Six Hands’ from Aegra’s double A-side release is an echo chamber of the past blending with contemporary indie fervour. The sublime fusion of new wave indie and the timelessness of synthpop is reminiscent of Policia, Crystal Castles, and Warpaint, with plenty of room for Aegra’s sonic signature to scribe through the mellifluous progressions.

The track is built on a foundation of robust electronic basslines and the rhythmic pulse of choppy indie guitars, creating a backdrop that is both invigorating and grounding. The production of Six Hands is a masterclass in balance and subtlety. Ethereal reverb wraps around each note and each beat to create an atmosphere that is both intimate and invigorating.

At the heart of this sonic odyssey is Aegra’s vocal prowess. Her voice, airy and consoling, weaves through the melodies, offering comfort and a sense of deep, introspective contemplation. The mantra “everything will be just fine” resounds as an emotional anchor, a soothing reassurance amidst the whirlwind of melodies and harmonies.

Aegra’s journey – from being burnt by the industry to finding solace in a ‘real’ job, and then back to the arms of music – resonates in every note. This isn’t just a comeback. It’s a reawakening and a testament to the enduring power of music as a companion, a healer, and a muse.

From the Inside/Six Hands was officially released on December 22. Stream it on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Unpredictability underpins the latest installation of lo-fi avant-garde alt-indie from Jespfur, nil.

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The Helmond-born, Amsterdam-based artist Jespfur transfused lashings of uninhibited experimentalism into his latest release, nil. With time signatures as distorted as the instrumental tones that are drenched in reverb and saturation, this latest feat of Avant Garde lo-fi from the multidisciplinary artist carries the expressionism of jazz in the undercurrent of the alt-indie soundscape, which takes the styles popularised by Peace and Jaws before burning the song crafting rulebook and scattering the ashes within this eclectic synthesis of style.

From post-grunge to ambient indie rock to ethereal pop, there’s a smorgasbord of genre styles synthesised into this scintillating score, which resounds with evocative intimacy and stands as a testament to Jespfur’s determination to keep his sound DIY, honest, unpredictable, and elusive.

nil will officially release on October 23; stream it on SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Take Graffiti Welfare’s lead in the soporifically ambient soundscape, Just Follow

Take Graffiti Welfare’s lead in their latest blip of transiently therapeutic bliss, Just Follow. The alternative artist takes the cosmic pop trend deeper into space than Bowie ever dared through a psychedelically smooth lens for the ultimate meditative effect.

The inventive samples lend themselves to the Avant-Garde nature of the release, while the dreamy, almost depersonalised, vocals aid the soporific effect of the atmospheric ambience.

As someone who grew up on a steady diet of Shoegaze records and was exposed to David Lynch soundtracks, I can safely say that Graffiti Welfare’s aptitude for artful electronica and cinematic gravitas is unmatched by most.

Just Follow is now available to stream on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Jess Porter kindled kindred spirit sanctity in his ethereally ambient release, Overplayed

After the successful release of his 2022 single, Patterns, singer-songwriter Jess Porter has made an ethereal return to the airwaves with his latest single, Overplayed.

The inspiration behind the single lies within an anxiety-calming connection made during a flight from the UK to Australia mid-pandemic. The nuanced message that runs through the lush oscillating vein of the ambient release is that you can always find your tribe – no matter where you are.

Having experienced a similar kind of experience just weeks before, and although I try to stay in our material reality while drawing logical conclusions, Overplayed meditatively taps into the feeling of knowing your kindred spirits are dotted around out there waiting to find you at the moment you most need them. There is so few facets of the human experience worth celebrating now. Yet Jess Porter’s kindling of kindred spirit sanctity is enough to make you waylay any human-related existentialism.

Overplayed is now available to stream on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Doruk Doyran ambiently nods to celestial awe in his latest indie composition, Your Love Is Holy

Doruk Doyran’s latest ambient composition, Your Love is Holy, starts akin to a binaural masterpiece before eerie melodies bleed through the lush shimmering reverb that hums across the expanse of the soundscape.

At the 3-minute mark, desert rock, shoegaze, and fiery blues-rock start to artfully collide in the release through searing hot riffs and cavernous echoes before Doruk Doyran begins to build a hypnotic lead guitar rhythm that guides you through the spiritual outro.

I’ve heard my fair share of ambient soundscapes in recent years, none of which had the same gravitas-rich grip as Your Love is Holy. The title certainly isn’t the only nod to celestial awe.

Your Love is Holy is now available to stream via Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Slip into the choral catharsis of 8udDha bl0od’s ambient single, ‘3ye 0f 7he jAgUAR’

‘3ye 0f 7he jAgUAR’ is just one of the recently released singles from the prolific and unpredictable Brighton-based artist 8udDha bl0od; once again, he’s experimented with his style and instrumentation and achieved in portraying organic expression that benefits the listener just as much as the creator.

4-minutes of unadulterated catharsis may seem like a dream come true in the chaos of our frantic modern world, but that is exactly what you will find in this easy to surrender to surf-rock-inspired ambient track.

Where birdsong would be on your archetypal meditative soundscape, 8udDha bl0od implanted chirping electronic glitches to cut through the choral tones spilling from the dreamy minimalist guitars. It’s mesmerising from the first note to the last, for the sake of my own sanity, I hope to hear plenty more ambient tracks from 8udDha bl0od in the future.

You can check out 8udDha bl0od’s latest single by heading over to SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Neal Gray invites you to drift into ‘A Beautiful Slumber’ with their ambient shoegaze single

Whatever your views on guitar music are, cast them aside before you hit play on the latest cinematically lush instrumental release ‘A Beautiful Slumber’ from US singer-songwriter Neal Gray.

With the same spacious soul-twistingly sweet tones as found in Slowdive’s most sedately compelling singles, the soundscape is absorbing from the first hit. The influence of Neil Halstead’s reticent yet ardently evocative quiescent guitar-style is more than palpable, but A Beautiful Slumber is so much more than just a feat of assimilation.

Neal Gray held back on the distortion and abrasive sonic effects to create a transcendent soundscape which is beguiling and cathartic in equal measure.

In a time where tranquillity is hard to come by, I sincerely recommend Neal Gray’s tracks as a staple for your playlists.

You can drift into A Beautiful Slumber yourselves by heading over to SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Norwegian Alt Electronica Ben Alexander has released their celestially compelling single “Seek”

There was no forgetting Ben Alexander’s absorbing approach to production after hearing their artfully ambient electronica single Daybreak. Naturally, upon the release of their latest single Seek we were all too eager to delve into their experimentally bold, indulgently cathartic ingenuity once more.

This time, Ben Alexander used ethereally choral vocals which gave Seek a gospel feel, but even the impious will be able to appreciate this celestially stylistic single. There are also nuances of Indie weaved into the mix which amplify the accessibility and makes Seek all too easy to sink into.

It may be early days for the Norwegian artist, composer, and producer. Yet, their ability to orchestrate soundscapes which are simultaneously haunting and soulfully resolving indicates that Ben Alexander won’t be up and coming for too much longer. For your sanity’s sake, get them on your radar.

You can listen to Seek for yourselves via Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Purshink – Kid: An Ambient Indie Folk Playlist Essential

Purshink

Up and coming singer songwriter Purshink’s debut single “Kid” is an aural invitation to escape the trials and tribulations of adult life and sink back into childhood nostalgia.

While the instrumentals set up soothing and indulgently absorbing melodies, Purshink succinctly layers her vocals atop of the guitar-led soundscape to create a powerfully reflective listening experience.

After you hear it once, you’ll consider Kid an ambient Indie Folk playlist essential. The track’s ability to strip the tension from you as you listen to the ethereally light progressions isn’t something which we get to hear every day. We’re incredibly excited to hear what comes next.

You can check out Purshink’s debut single which was released on March 13th for yourselves by heading over to Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Sätilä – Slow Down: Ambiently Transfixing Indie Soul Pop

“Slow Down” is the ambiently transfixing recently released single from up and coming Indie Pop artist Sätilä which will help you do just that.

With the instrumentals following a tension-stripping pace and Sätilä’s vocals running poised and steady over the mix, Slow Down almost becomes a dreamscape. Despite the gentle mellifluous feel of Slow Down, you’ll be hooked into each and every seamlessly melodic progression. And if you thought the prelude was arrestive, just wait until Slow Down moves into the outro and intricate finger picking guitar alchemy is weaved into the mix.

The serenity found in Slow Down is almost unparalleled. The Finnish-born London-based artist is undoubtedly one to watch in 2020.

You can check out Sätilä’s single Slow Down for yourselves by heading over to Spotify now.

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Review by Amelia Vandergast