Browsing Tag

David Bowie

Rooftop Screamers & Randy McStine – Souvenirs: A Mesmeric Prog-Pop-Rock Keepsake of Nostalgia and Emotion

Posted on 20 October 2024

In Souvenirs, Rooftop Screamers, the passion project of Mike Collins, pulled from his well of diverse musical influences and delivered a sonic experience that echoes through the past and present. With Randy McStine (Porcupine Tree) and Mark Plati (David Bowie) lending their talents, the track captures the bitter-sweetness of nostalgic reflection to transmit an affecting ode to the beauty of mementoes and the sorrow of losing touch with people who have shaped your soul.

The choral pop-rock energy of the song, tinged with prog-rock guitar motifs, rises and falls like waves of memories rushing through the psyche. Shimmering 80s chords lift the track into an almost celestial realm, while the melancholic lyrics drag you back to Earth with a gravity that’s hard to shake. You’ll find yourself torn between the elation of the instrumentals and the heaviness of the message which we can all relate to. We’ve all been there as protagonists in the universally resonant vignette after loving in losing, whether that person is no longer with us, or we’ve just shifted with different tides.

Every Rooftop Screamers release reveals a new avenue of Collins’ ingenuity, and Souvenirs is no different. Much like every other triumph in his discography, you’re still led to the same emotionally scintillating destination with the single that hits just as hard as the Christmas song that always knows which evocative triggers to pull. There really is no overstating the impact of this stellar slice of proggy 80s pop rock.

Souvenirs was officially released on October 11; stream the single on Spotify now.

Keep up to date with all the latest Rooftop Screamers singles via Facebook.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Tom Waits Meets Ricky Martin in THE Astrolabe’s pop mood elevator,  Lovers

Posted on 13 October 2024

THE Astrolabe became the superlative king of cosmic pop sex appeal with his latest single, Lovers. If you thought Ricky Martin’s Livin la vida loca was sonically seductive, brace yourself for the affectingly aphrodisiacal energy of Lovers, which alchemises Latino rhythms with Bowie-esque space dust and jazzy grooves, creating a genre-fluid tour de force that sweeps through the soul with maximum volition.

Following a prelude that nods to Kraftwerk, the Athens-hailing innovator’s vocals croon into the mix, allowing you to imagine how Waits’ discography would have unfolded if he was just as adept at wrapping his gruff timbres around pop hooks. In the choruses, the peerless singer-songwriter proves he’s equally comfortable in a more harmonic register as his vocal notes soar with the brass section.

We are officially obsessed with THE Astrolabe and his endlessly uplifting cultivated sound that goes beyond setting a tone; his ability to command your entire mood is second to none. For your own sake, get him on your radar.

Lovers started serenading the airwaves on October 3rd; get hot under the collar with it by heading over to Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Robin Lewis space-dusted rock n roll with ‘Still the Same’

Posted on 31 August 2024

South Carolina’s prodigal rock n roll son, Robin Lewis, is a seasoned sonic architect who has cut his razor-sharp teeth through decades of fronting bands and exploring diverse genres. His discography may dip into rock, post-punk, and reggae, but his eclectic style never strays too far from the aural fingerprint he’s honed over the years.

In his latest single, Still the Same, Lewis filters Bowie’s space-dusted sonic signature through a rugged and raw rock lens. The brash guitar chords sweep through the lo-fi garage production like a tsunami as Lewis’ vocals charismatically take command of the single which embodies the overdriven soul of rock n roll.

If you kneel at the altar of rock, Still the Same is a more than worthy hit to get on your knees for. With swathes of distinctive production and distortion effects adding depth to the intricately mastered release, Still the Same wrestles the psyche into a vice-like grip which doesn’t relinquish until the outro which follows soaring rock virtuoso guitar solos.

Still the Same, taken from Robin Lewis’ Lost Mix Tape LP, is now available to stream on SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Marcus Liuzzi is the last of the great romantics in ‘Right Whatever’s Wrong’

Posted on 22 May 2024

Marcus Liuzzi’s latest standout single, Right Whatever’s Wrong, teases the soul with flawless feel-good finesse by sprinkling layers of spacey Ziggy Stardust over kinetic drumbeats; the fluidity of the intricate laid-back grooves behind the nostalgia of the 80s synths are just as rhythmically compelling as the infectious beats in the Stone Roses signature sound. Paired with the soulful crooning vocal lines, Right Whatever’s Wrong efficaciously embodies the warmth of the sensation of finding perfection in someone that obliges you to never do them wrong or let them down.

Liuzzi, perhaps the last of the great romantics, crafted an atmosphere where the soaring 70s rock guitar riff tears through the euphony towards an ardent outro, giving the track another sweetly exhilarant dynamic. This colourful prism of a pop-rock hit ensures anyone who delves in will feel the full force of the earworm.

Influenced by the likes of the Beatles, ELO, Queen, Pink Floyd, and David Bowie, Liuzzi finds perpetual inspiration in themes of love, hope and peace; his latest single is a scintillatingly soulful amalgamation of his diverse influences, making Right Whatever’s Wrong a testament to his passion and artistry. Dive into this track and let it sweep you into its vibrant, nostalgic embrace.

Right Whatever’s Wrong hit the airwaves on May 10th, stream the single on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

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

Duncan R Foley explores the spectrum of human emotion in his alt-rock odyssey, Colours

Posted on 30 September 2023

Anyone who keeps Pixies, Nirvana and Smashing Pumpkins in their record collection will want to decorate their playlists with the latest single, Colours, by Duncan R Foley, which pays an ode to sonic stylings of the aforementioned iconic outfits while bringing in a new brand of vibrant melodicism.

To evade the assimilative alt-90s trap that all too many artists fall foul of the South African Belfast-residing songwriter and producer introduced the romanticism of post-punk, in the same vein as Echo and the Bunnymen, into the vibrant soundscape along with the cosmic glamour of Bowie.

Using ‘colours’ as a metaphor for the broad spectrum of emotions that are part and parcel of the human experience, Colours is an efficaciously consoling release, which serves the essential reminder that feeling lonely and grappling with melancholy doesn’t make you an outlier, it makes you human.

Colours will reach the airwaves on September 30th; stream it on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Interview: Bella Moulden tells us all about her outstanding new single Wire

Posted on 15 April 2023

Chatting to us more about her striking new single Wire, Bella Moulden shows us all about her 80-synth-pop tone and her outstanding multi-instrumentalist lifestyle. Telling us more about her idols and watching proper MTV back in the day, this is a thrilling interview which will electrify and inspire many to reach their dreams.

Hello, there Bella. Please let us know where in the world you are from/based and how many instruments do you play?

I’m originally from Buffalo, NY and I currently live in Belmont, NC.

I play about 5 instruments—self-taught. Piano, Guitar, Bass, Ukulele, and Percussion. I have been playing piano and singing since I was 9.

Do you have any family members who got you involved in the music industry or how did you get the music bug?

I am the only one in my family that is involved with music. I am a strange anomaly. I can’t really tell you how I ended up involved with music, it really just happened. I think a lot of it could have been watching MTV when I was a kid, in the early 2000s they’d still play music videos and performances. I think that’s what inspired me really want to start doing music.

What inspired your retro style?

Sheesh, so many things. Austin Powers, Jimi Hendrix, Prince, Wendy, David Bowie and so many more. The 60s/70s/80s had the coolest fashion. It also helps that I have a natural afro.

Please tell us all about your new single Wire.

My new single, “Wire,” is about the electric feeling of falling in love. I wrote, produced, composed, and performed the song in its entirety. The sound was definitely inspired by the 80s, with the synth-pop and reverberated guitar solo.

What inspired you to use a 4/6 double-neck guitar for some parts of your shows and videos?

Before using a double-neck for some of my stuff, I would literally stack my guitars on top of each other, having two separate guitars hanging around my neck. It was ridiculously heavy and immobilizing. I wanted to transition over to different instruments at a faster rate, so at the time this seemed like the best option. It made me wonder if there was a double neck guitar with a bass, rather than a 12-string. A lot of searching and I found quite a few, it’s a rare design, but I immediately had to get one! It works great when I use my loop-station, as seen in many of my videos.

Please tell us all about SelfCare and the process behind it being well-known all over the world?

I wrote, “SelfCare,” back in 2021 in the car waiting for my mom in the grocery store. It was a tough time due to the pandemic. Between school, music, and working I was highly stressed out. I was burning out quite a lot. With that, I really wanted to hear a song that reminds me to take a break and that it’s okay to not be okay. I couldn’t find any at the time, though I’m sure there are tons! I ended up writing my own. When we got home from the store I immediately went into my room and started recording. On the ride home I already had the melody in my head. I wanted it to be simplistic. Something repetitive, similarly an affirmation. I wanted it to get stuck in my head.

It began to get traction on Tiktok a year later, earning over 50 million views and over 150 thousand videos. With that, it also is doing great on Spotify! I’m glad this song is doing well and that its point is getting across. Definitely, the perfect song to jam to in the morning while drinking coffee!

Last, is there anything, in particular, you wish to achieve in 2023?

This year, I wish to perform at more festivals!

–

Listen up on Spotify.

Interview by Llewelyn Screen

Poison Pills: Mark Docherty chases the sun on Saying Goodbye

Posted on 14 February 2023

Moving on from the rotten past and only concentrating on what the next door shall unfurl, Mark Docherty packs his bags up and ventures out on the riff-heavy condensation of a song called Saying Goodbye.

Mark Docherty is a Barrow, Cumbria-based indie alternative musician who started his career when just 11 years old and brings back that timeless David Bowie-like energy to proceedings.

”This song describes the moment you discover you’re strong enough to leave that toxic relationship, you’re strong enough to leave that rubbish job and the catharsis you feel when you put yourself first. It was written when I decided to break up my old band and leave a job I’d been comfortable in for 8 years.” ~ Mark Docherty

Avoiding the dishonest prophet and starting the engine rather quickly, Mark Docherty shall take all our minds into a moment that many have faced a thousand times over. Deep in context and compacted in an immensely open aura to consume with conscientious abandon, we find a supremely reflective anthem.

Saying Goodbye from Barrow, Cumbria-based indie alternative artist Mark Docherty is one of those special songs you just embrace for all its brilliance. Sensational in all aspects and with excellent solos interwoven into this underground gem, this is one for the books and needs to be loved.

Attend the audio on Spotify. View more news on IG.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Transcend gravity with Marcus Liuzzi’s spacey 80s synth pop serenade, No One Better Than You

Posted on 30 January 2023

There was no forgetting Marcus Liuzzi after his lasciviously hooky 2022 single, 2 Night Stand. He’s swooned in with the Chris Isaak 80s vibes once more in his proclamation of enduring passion, No One Better Than You. The synthy, spacey pop tones push the single beyond the earth’s atmosphere, transcending gravity and every pop archetype that came before it.

No feeling quite matches the sensation of earnestly upholding someone as the reflection of perfection in your eyes – especially when their own self-image is dimmed with doubt, leaving you compelled to celebrate them to put back the shine in their tear-streaked aplomb.

“you feel as though you’re broken, you’re not the only one, you put your trust in someone else, and look what they’ve done” may just be the most compassionate lyric penned in the last decade.

Listen to No One Better Than You on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Poseidon’s Alley as Vast as the Ocean

Posted on 26 January 2023

Did you ever have that experience of listening to David Bowie’s “Low” and thinking: “damn, this like nothing you’ll hear anywhere…” only to discover that it’s a brilliant blend of styles that never ought to have worked together? A similar, if not identical, experience can be had by listening to  LA-based Poseidon’s Alley AKA Tim Herscovitch.

While writing the above sentences I was indulging in Dr. Gachet, a psychedelic, electronic, chill-wave instrumental track which owes more than a few overtures to groundbreaking alternative artists of the 70’s and 80’s, not to mention a little Miles Davis, for good measure. With lo-fi pads supporting a funky guitar groove we journey through layers of catchy themes played on synths and a host of other instruments. I suppose what’s most impressive is the neo-classical elements of blending different moods and transitioning through them, much like movements in a concerto or symphony. Indeed, Dr. Gachet is never boring – and the captivating melodies, harmonies, and rhythms are augmented by the interesting timbers chosen to carry the same.

Poseidon’s Alley shows first-rate musicianship, which is why I was not all that surprised to find that Herscovitch is a professor of music. A quick look at his rating on ratemyprofessor.com shows that (according to his students) he’s passionate about education as well as music. This is nice to see as I have always felt as though educators ought to always maintain a link to the professional world and it seems that Tim Herscovitch is doing just that.