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Editors

Cavono has made his dark pop debut with the post-punk tinged album, Desires.

Cavono

Texas-residing artist Cavono has released his debut album, Desires; the best introduction to his post-punk-style crooning, dark trip-hop beats and alt-indie guitars is the hypnotic standout single, Glass.

If you could imagine the aural result from fusing styles of Hozier, Big Black Delta and the Editors, you can get an idea of how much sex appeal spills from this moody, folky feat of alt-indie pop. From the first verse, you’re pulled into the semi-orchestral soundscape by the sheer magnetism of Cavono’s soulfully morose vocal timbre, making the haunting ethereal tones in the genre-obliterating track so much more phantasmal.

Desires officially released on August 6th; it is now available via apple music.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

UK alt-rock outfit THE BIGGER PICTURE is set to make a sonic debut with ‘Sparkle’.

THE BIGGER PICTURE

London-based alt-rock newcomers THE BIGGER PICTURE is set to make a sonic debut with, ‘Sparkle’; a single that parallels the anthemic energy in tracks by Muse, Arcade Fire, Editors and Biffy Clyro and sets the bar high for the debut EP.

The full-bodied release will take you back to the days when rock artists would master theatrical aural experiences, designed to completely blow your mind when the crescendos and guitar solos come around. It is hardly a stretch to say that, given the chance, THE BIGGER PICTURE could offer the same command of a festival crowd as Queen did in the 80s.

The dual vocals practically make Sparkle effervescent with collaborative chemistry, and the guitar work is enough to give James Dean Bradfield a complex.

You can check out THE BIGGER PICTURE via Facebook and Instagram.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Divisions vent their ‘Quiet Frustrations’ on post-truth politics and social division

Divisions by Divisions

If UK alt-rock five-piece Divisions had scripted 2020, they still couldn’t have come up with a more appropriate time to release their eponymous second album (due out March 12th). In preparation, they lead in with this, the opening single from the ten-track album, available via Bandcamp and with an accompanying ‘lockdown-special’ video on YouTube.

‘Quiet Frustrations’ is a powerful track, a statement around social division, post-truth politics, the frustrations of pandemic-stricken Britain, and that horrible over-arching ennui and exhaustion that’s seemed to blanket us all for the last couple of years. It’s a great song, potent, intelligent, thoughtful, and unusual yet with enough commercial nous to appeal to a wider audience; think Thirty Seconds To Mars with a little more introspection and inner-city tower-block feel, and you’re pretty much on the money.

See the lock-down video for ‘Quiet Frustrations’ on YouTube. Buy ‘Quiet Frustrations’, and pre-order ‘Divisions’, from Bandcamp.

Sonic Indie and Celestial Soul Collide in Nikola’s Transfixing Alt Indie Rock Single ‘Pink Lights’

After spending years successful touring bands, Minnesota-hailing artist, Nikola Hamilton, released their ground-breaking EP ‘Darling’ and established themselves as one of the most luminary singer-songwriters who have made their debut in 2020.

The standout track, Pink Lights, will allow you to imagine what would happen if Interpol chose to team up with Hozier. You get the cold, cutting sonic style with the almost celestial vocals which tear though the darkly atmospheric soundscape and speak directly to your soul.

If Nikola made a bigger impression with their sleek Darkwave debut, we’d have concussion.

You can check out Nikola’s EP for yourselves which was released on November 13th, 2020 via Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Litters has unleashed the ultimate Indie feel-good hit with the sonically ensnaring single ‘Diamond Eyes’

Brisbane-based singer-songwriter, Litters, has unleashed their fiery New Wave Indie track ‘Diamond Eyes’. If you could imagine what it would sound like if Arcade Fire and Jack Johnson collaborated, you’ll get an idea of how Litters pulled off the perfect balance of sonic energy and tender intricacy.

With an enticing rhythmic command complete with angularly hypnotic guitar, a smorgasbord of influences stylistically banded together and a significant serving of authentic aural ingenuity, Diamond Eyes is about as efficacious as a blackhole when it comes to pulling you in.

Diamond Eyes isn’t just radio-ready, it should be topping the Indie charts.

You can check out Diamond Eyes for yourselves by heading over to SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Mondé – Best At: Intensely Emotive Indie Art Rock

Mondé

Up and coming Melbourne Indie artist Mondé is set to release their emotively raw, accordantly powerful Indie Art Rock single Best At. Fans of The National, and The Editors, you’re going to want to hear it.

Mondé possesses the rare ability to make lightly orchestrated instrumentals bleed pure weighted emotion. If you’re as aurally sensitive as me, listening to Best At will be an emotional sucker punch.

The humble yet stridently ardent romanticism-soaked lyrics allow you to warm to Mondé instantaneously. You’ll be captivated by his talent when it comes to making the inexpressible expressible.

It’s not only the momentum which picks up as the single progresses. The raw unfiltered soul also amps up in ferocity as the poised and gentle Indie vocals evolve into forcefully zealous choral howls. The seamless build up in intensity is just one of the reasons why this flawless track demands repeat attention.

Best At will be available to stream from April 20th via SoundCloud.

Stay up to date with the latest releases and news via Facebook.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Manian Van Hacker – Real Love: Pounding Post Punk

Post Punk isn’t Post Punk unless the sound completely shatters your soul, the wild screeching of the guitar that features in this track submerges you into the murky resonant depths of this track.

Creating the perfect Post Punk track is no easy venture to set out upon, yet Harrisburg, US based musician Manian Van Hacker has created a tentatively tasteful mixed that captivates you from the second the muted guitars kick in which lead you into the sweetest symphony that has been put out in 2017.

Real Love is the ultimate anti-love song that is a necessity to any playlist, with vocals that match the quiescent magnetism of Alice in Chains singer Layne Stanley it’s hard not to be subdued into his contemptuous melody.

For any fans of My Bloody Valentine, Slowdive, Editors and Interpol, you’re going to want to check out the immersive debut track from Manian Van Hacker.

The new EP ‘Pilot Error’ is due for release on January 19th, 2018, until then, check out the sensational new single from Manian Van Hacker via SoundCloud:

https://soundcloud.com/manianvhacker/real-love-single?in=manianvhacker/sets/pilot-error-ep-focus-listening/s-1bXmw

To keep up to date with his new releases follow the enviably talented musician via Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/mvhmusic/

Damask – Inner City: Pop with a Punch

Damask are an innovatively underground act from Essex, UK who have recently celebrated the release of their first single Inner City. Their sound is a concoction of Pop Rock & Funk styling, which is wonderfully produced into an enigmatic universal sound. The idea behind the sound came from band members; Duncan Haslam and Takahide George combined desire to create sweet, soulful vibes with a touch of class.

Inner City boasts the unmistakable soul jingle which introduces the track before it starts to flow with infinite possibility. I adore the darker undertones to this music, it transcends the usual cheap styling of the genre to create a dulcet sound which are resonant of bands such as The Killers, Editors and Chris Cornell.

The lyrics are as catchy as the hooks in the music, put them both together and you get an infectious melody, not too dissimilar for Daft Punk’s cult hit with Get Lucky. However the lyrics have a far Deeper Indie Rock resonance behind them thanks to the monumental vocal arrangements of the lead vocalist.

Check out their debut hit on the Soundcloud link below!

https://soundcloud.com/damaskmusic/tracks

Why not stay connected with Damask via Facebook on the link below?

https://www.facebook.com/akindofmodernlove

A&R Factory Present: Villiers

Villiers are a deliciously dark synth pop/ new wave four piece from the north of England. Forming in 2011, originally as a three piece, they released first single ‘The Dancer’ on Jack to Phono records to rave reviews and airplaya acorss the world from BBC Radios 2’s Janice Long and Jonathan Leigh Rosen’s ‘Lopsided world of L’.

New single ‘Wandering’ encapsulates many of the iconic sounds of which the band have been influenced by such as New Order, Bronksi Beat and Depeche Mode creating a dreamy yet dramatic pop track that’s sure to get those bodies on the indie dancefloor. The track tells a tale of love and angst set against a dark, drug fuelled club scene.

The band are brother Ben and Daniel Earnshaw, Daniel Buckle and Mike Bradford.

Live dates:
May 29th – Darwen Live (Mainstage)
June 17th – Night and Day, Manchester (Supporting Avec Sans)
July 6th – SummerDays Festival, Clitheroe Castle