Browsing Tag

experimental

Nightbird Casino has released their hotly-anticipated sweetly psychotropic earworm, ‘The Town’.

Posted on 23 April 2021

If you’ve found yourself wondering if you will ever hear an alternative track that holds any authenticity ever again, find yourselves pleasantly surprised with the sweetly psychotropic earworm, ‘The Town’, by art-rock Oakland-residing duo, Nightbird Casino.

With elements of artfully composed jazz, grunge, space rock, psych-pop and classical all melting in the alchemically intoxicating pot, you will practically feel the rabbit hole opening beneath you as you listen to the descending cadence of the jazzy improv instrumentals.

The existentialist air to The Town paired with the playfully avant-garde approach to production allows the track to become the ‘everything is burning down around me, and I’m totally fine’ meme, personified. And something tells me that if Bukowski was still around, he would have Nightbird Casino on his playlists; they share the same downtrodden but subversively charismatic appeal.

On this track, you’ll hear dual harmonic vocals from the founding members, James Moore and Don Shepherd. Instrumentally, you’ll hear session musician Nicolas Ocampo (clarinets, flute, saxophone, oboe, bassoon), James on bass and ondes martenot and Don on guitars, piano, organ, and drums.

With their sophomore album, ‘Rusian Carpet‘, due for release this summer, any fans of Radiohead, Sonic Youth or Mr Bungle will want Nightbird Casino on their radar.

The Town officially released on April 23rd; you can check it out for yourselves by heading over to Soundcloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Moose Wrench – an ‘Oasis Of Calm’

Posted on 30 March 2021
Moose Wrench

Opening up with a solo guitar before the vocal kicks in, ‘Oasis Of Calm’ is a flamenco-y, Spanish guitar-y, neo-classical-y acoustic-based guitar track with gravelly vocals courtesy of Moose Wrench – a.k.a. Leeds-based producer Craig Robertson – interjecting occasionally into the predominantly acoustic track.

The guitar rotates around a number of themes, ultimately returning to the same melodic motif, following the vocal line, interspersed with electronic sampled parts throughout the 8’38” of the track. Taken from Moose Wrench’s new five track EP ‘Dead Stars’, you can hear ‘Oasis Of Calm’ – and pre-order the EP – on BandCamp.

Review by Alex Holmes

Escape the existentialism with Talketto’s latest single ‘Across the Table’

Posted on 1 March 2021

Brighton-based indie producer, Talketto’s latest single ‘Across the Table’ is an indulgent escape from existentialism; if you could imagine what it would sound like if Lou Reed collaborated with the Legendary Pink Dots, you’ll get a good idea of what is in store when you hit play.

The despondently hazy vocals come with a sardonic bite as they chomp down on the semi-psychedelic artfully impactful spacey synths which weave colourful progressions as Talketto delves deep into the agony and inconvenience of the human experience.

Across the Table truly deserves to be a staple to everyone’s ambient indie playlists. Talketto may think outside of archetypal boxes, but each of their soundscapes consume you through the sheer ingenuity.

Across the Table is now available to stream on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

London Alt-Indie Trio Alchemy3 Has Made Their Lockdown Debut with “Ride Us Through the Storm”

Posted on 18 November 2020
https://alchemythree.bandcamp.com/

London-based trio Alchemy3 made their Alt-Indie debut on October 29th with the mesmerically compelling release “Ride Us Through the Storm”. Hit play and you’ll quickly come to realise how they came up with their moniker.

The high-vibe creative expression runs rampant through the tantalising soundscape, which is a minefield of aural curveballs, but each unexpected evolution in the single affirms that Alchemy3 have the ingenuity and the positivity to make a difference to the airwaves.

Ride Us Through the Storm is a track which utterly consumes you when you hit play, and I think we can all agree, aural escapism is more valuable now than ever. With vocals which share hypnotic reminiscence with the likes of Nadine Shah floating atop of the intricately orchestrated instrumental arrangement which mixes acoustic instruments with dreamy electric guitar notes, the single unravels as one of the most stylistically and lyrically profound singles I’ve heard this year.

You can check out Alchemy3’s debut single by heading over to Bandcamp.

Review by Amelia Vandergast 

Experimental artist 8udDha bl0od has released their celestial gem of track ‘Emerald’

Posted on 16 November 2020

Rising from nothing over a gorgeous fully ten-second intro, 8udDha bl0od’s ‘Emerald’ is a simple, two-minute instrumental piece, ethereal singing synth-strings atop an almost choral swell of background chords. It’s melancholic yet beautiful, tranquil, peaceful, and uplifting all at once, with an element of hope that transcends ‘instrumental’ or ‘ambient’ genre-typing.

It’s almost Gregorian chant-like in places, orchestral and practically hymnal, inspiring and graceful, with an elegance and appeal that enchants, captivates and enthrals.

If music could have a colour, this one would indeed, definitely, be emerald.

Hear 8udDha bl0od’s single ‘Emerald’ on Soundcloud.

Review by Alex Holmes

8udDha bl0od immerses us in ‘Khaos’ with their latest release

Posted on 16 November 2020

8uddDha bl0od is an artist whose work always transcends genre or type, working instead to portray a sense of time, space, and location, through his music. This is music as out-and-out art, striving to directly convey emotion to the listener.

‘Khaos’ is 2’28” of repeating vaguely middle-eastern tinged motifs, pipes and chimes over a curiously at once both disturbing and yet soothing atonal background of droning strings. It is chaotic, certainly, yet at the same time, there’s an order and structure within the echoing pattern of reiterative notes, juxtaposed against the counterpoint of the disturbing, unsettled background soundscape. It’s, without doubt, a transportive piece, carrying the listener to an experience of a different place; in that, 8udDah bl0od has certainly succeeded.

Listen to ‘Khaos’ on Soundcloud.

Review by Alex Holmes

Explore the Folklore in Garefowl’s single ‘Hion Daila Horo Ri Ho Hion Daila La’

Posted on 6 November 2020

Folklore organically flows through ‘Hion Daila Horo Ri Ho Hion Daila La’, just one of the singles found on the Alt Folk artist Garefowl’s alchemic TARDIS of an album ‘Cliffs’.

The entrancingly tribalistic record consistently subverts your expectations by seamlessly shunting you from eerie tones into euphoria-infusing traditional St Kildan melodies.

Even though each of the artists contributing to the album worked remotely, the instrumental arrangement transcends being ‘tight’. The mesmerism which breathes between the brooding notes is enough to tear you away from modernity and allow you to wonder what it would be like to live a subsistence existence away from the fray and 21st distraction,

After receiving high praise from the likes of Cerys Matthews (BBC Radio 6), Mark Radcliffe (BBC Radio 2) and The National, it is impossible to see how Garefowl won’t become a major part of the musical landscape in 2021 and beyond.

You can check out Garefowl’s single via Spotify or YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Hook into the grooves of Favor’s latest Psyche-infused Garage Rock track “Wishing at the Well”

Posted on 27 October 2020

Austin, TX Alt-Indie trio Favor’s recently released single “Wishing at the Well” is the taste-breaker that your Alt Indie playlists have been crying out for. The rhythmically captivating track simultaneously oozes sex appeal and commercial appeal. There really is no room to wonder why so many have been drawn to their massive yet intimate sound.

There’s a slight nod to 60s Psych and there are some elements of old-school Garage Rock thrown in for good measure. But with the dynamically-sonic appeal and the freshly alluring vernacular in the lyrics, Wishing at the Well offers all the distinction you need to confirm that Favor is one of the most authentic newcomers to the airwaves.

With their rhythmically raucous energy and their ability to make a strong connection with the listener – in spite of the DIY-style production, you don’t really need any more indicators that Favor is an Indie Rock trio well worth putting on your radar.

You can check out Wishing at the Well by heading over to Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Mercury Teardrop – Noise in a Vacuum: Sonically Dystopic Post-Rock

Posted on 22 October 2020

If you’re looking for aural escapism, Mercury Teardrop’s mesmerising 2020 album ‘Blinded by a Dark Star’ serves as the perfect divergence from reality.

‘Noise in a Vacuum’ efficaciously sets the cold tone for the second album released by the Vancouver-based Experimental Post Rock artist. If Bauhaus gives you chills, prepare for your skin to prickle under the command of sonically dystopic tones.

The soothing instrumental melodies bring the comfort while the entrancing reverb-laden effects paired with Rosalie Sonsalla’s vocals bring an atmospheric intensity to the soundscape which borders on Avant-Garde, but there’s plenty of accessible grounded realism to ensure that the evocative message behind the single still resonates.

You can check out Noise in a Vacuum for yourselves by heading over to Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Sun Lite has dropped their Psychedelically Entrancing Cold Wave single “M.O.T.H.E.R.”

Posted on 3 October 2020

Belgian solo artist Sun Lite is here with their mesmeric era and genre-blending single “M.O.T.H.E.R.” Hit play and prepare to fall down the entrancing rabbit hole which was dug out with elements of Blues, 60’s Psych, Funk and EDM.

It transcends stunning. It’s an aural exhibition of harrow orchestrated with nothing more than a laptop, a keyboard, an acoustic guitar and Sun Lite’s intensely phantasmal vocals which are sure to be a hit with any fans of The Chameleons and Peter Murphy.

With hints of tribalism, your rhythmic pulses will be efficaciously arrested by the soundscape which leaves plenty of room for mind-warping experimentalism.

In short, M.O.T.H.E.R. is an obsession-worthy track for any staunch fans of psychedelia. Unlike so many Psychedelically-inspired artists, it’s more than just an ode to the past. The darkness which crawls through the single will stay with you for long after the psychedelic cold wave single has faded to a close.

You can check it out for yourselves by heading over to YouTube now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast