Browsing Tag

Indie Dream Pop

Kablamo traverses the otherworldly in their post-punk-y indie release, Unnatural

Posted on 21 September 2022

Kablamo self-proclaims their debut self-titled EP to be personal, genuine and, at times, indulgent; I can fully attest to the indulgence being universal once you slip into the seminal single, Unnatural.

Unnatural unravels through dreamy guitar melodies, glassy synths and ragged post-punk basslines beneath the dream pop vocals which mellifluously breeze through the sentimentally heartfelt release, which all too readily imparts the emotion. An evocative response to the kaleidoscopic colour of Unnatural is non-optional.

Any fans of Deerhunter, Beach House, Tame Impala and Wild Nothing will undoubtedly want to sink their teeth into this paradoxically ambiently striking release.

The debut self-titled EP hit the airwaves on September 9th. You can hear it for yourselves by heading over to Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Drift away with Milk Bar Gang’s ethereal art-pop lullaby, Ozzie Ostriches Dream

Posted on 8 June 2022
OPEN by Milk Bar Gang

Taken from their debut EP, Open, the Milk Bar Gang’s standout single, Ozzie Ostriches Dream, is an ethereal lullaby; constructed to subdue you into an art-pop trance.

Any fans of Nico, PJ Harvey and Suicide will find just as much to favour in Ozzie Ostriches Dream, which wears influence from the 80s new wave, shoegaze, and cosmic pop as motifs affixed to the sheer originality that has been soporifically poured into this feat of transcendent avant-garde alchemy.

The reverb on the whispered vocals, the ring of the delayed guitars and the glassy aesthetic of the track all contribute to the intricately distinctive appeal that is sure to see the duo go far in 2022 and beyond.

Ozzie Ostriches Dream is now available to stream and purchase on Bandcamp.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Middle Child & YHWHHH have released their semi-lucid lovesong, Meditate

Posted on 28 May 2022

If you are anything like me and you get the majority of your sanctity in aural form, the dreamy guitar-laden electronica single, Meditate, from the producer, Middle Child and guitarist, YHWHHH, will make for the perfect cosy and compassionate home.

With the vocals dripping with the Elliott Smith effect, the accordance of the choral reverb-swathed guitars, which will make any Slowdive fans’ hearts skip a beat, and the soft electronic layers, Meditate moves past catharsis instrumentally.

Lyrically, the single unfolds as a semi-lucid love song, full of proclamations of tenderly sincere affection which rival the sweet nothings that slip into lovers’ ears between consciousness and sleep. With millions of streams between them, something tells me that Middle Child & YHWHHH will be unstoppable from here on out.

Meditate is now available to stream on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

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

Posted on 24 April 2022

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

Life is but a dark dream in Fox Evades’ latest indie-pop single, Strange Forever

Posted on 27 February 2022

If you ever needed definitive proof that no city breeds dark indie like Manchester, delve into the atmosphere in Fox Evades’ latest single, Strange Forever.

With a beguiling vocal style reminiscent of Jo Bevan from Desperate Journalist paired with the instrumentals that will remind you why you fell for post-punk and new wave in the first place, Strange Forever is an indulgent hit of tonal nostalgia.

When it comes to the substance in this viscerally evocative confession, Fox Evades well and truly stands in a league of their own. There comes a time in every outlier’s life when we acknowledge that we will never grow into normalcy; Strange Forever captures those cutting feelings while unifying the similarly minded with the lyrical affirmation that it’s a choice to be alone.

Strange Forever will officially release on February 25th. You can check it out for yourselves by heading over to SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Zara Shahzad takes us through a dream-pop descent with her latest single, Fall from Grace

Posted on 6 January 2022

London-based singer-songwriter, Zara Shahzad, has released her eagerly-anticipated ethereally sweet indie dream-pop single, Fall from Grace. With nuances of shoegaze and trip-hop combined, the 21-year-old artist broke new aural ground with the deeply visceral single that unfolds around entrancing beats and reverb-laden angular guitars. Light and dark textures weave inexplicably together, never letting the melancholy overpower the sense of strength that Zara exhibits in the vulnerable release.

Any fans of Desperate Journalist and Cultdreams will undoubtedly want to add Fall from Grace to their new wave shoegaze and dream-pop playlists.

Fall from Grace is now available to stream on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Stükenberg calls for socio-political peace with their idyllically transformative single ‘Blind Unity’

Posted on 19 November 2020

US Indie multi-instrumentalist, producer, engineer and Grammy-nominated songwriter Stükenberg’s latest release “Blind Unity” operates on a celestial level. Hit play and you’ll feel the pure weight of the emotion it contains crawl beneath your ribs as you drink in the idyllic peace-inspiring tone.

The mellow progressions prop up Stükenberg’s resounding vocals as they bring harmony to the conversational lyricism which offers so much imagery Blind Unity becomes so much more than an aural experience.

His succinct way of reflecting reality and commonality back at you is practically unparalleled. Emotion and introspection are fed in fragments, but together, they weave an intricate tapestry which illustrates the frustrations of navigating 2020. Ultimately, Blind Unity is an invitation to put rise above the hysterical partisan ideals and misconceptions which is tearing our society apart more than whoever is sitting in the White House ever could.

You can check out Blind Unity which is part of Stükenberg’s 2020 album Double Plus Panic via Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Sol Paradise – Tranquil Life: Imploringly Sun-Kissed Alt Indie

Posted on 14 November 2020

London-based solo artist and producer Sol Paradise’s third single “Tranquil Life” is a reverb-drenched ticket to a sun-kissed aural plateau. A soundscape this sweet can only have been served from the soul.

With stylistic nods to the likes of Modest Mouse and Beck along with Sol Paradise’s signature hazy sound which eclipses the best of Alt 90s, he found the perfect balance of nostalgic accessibility and thoughtful authenticity.

The lyrics wrap themselves around the concept of knowing what you want out of life but having no idea how to get there – something which will be resonant for many, especially with lockdown langour still thick in the air.

After reaching in excess of 32,000 streams with their debut single and considering stunning evocative poignancy with Tranquil Life, it is easy to feel that there’s very little that could get in the way of this magnetic artist and his imploringly distinctive sound.

You can check out Tranquil Life via Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Liberty Butterworth – Another Day in Paradise: Dream Pop Poetry

Posted on 14 November 2020

“Another Day in Paradise” is the latest melodiously succinct Indie Dream Pop single by London-based artist Liberty Butterworth. Think of it as the Indie antidote to lockdown 2.0 angst.

With the captivatingly poetic lyricism bringing a grounding depth to the tonally dreamy release, Another Day in Paradise will leave you subdued while Liberty Butterworth lulls you with her sticky-sweet witty lyrics. She addresses the disparity in our society which we’re constantly being told is dystopic, but Another Day in Paradise allows you to see the silver-linings while serenading you with the nostalgically distorted guitar notes. Her authenticity is one thing. The ingenuity within her resolving minimalistic single is quite another. Get her on your radar.

You can check out Another Day in Paradise by heading over to Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Sean Millea – Little Bit of Sunshine: Compassionately Emotive Indie

Posted on 4 September 2020

Up and coming Alt Indie artist Sean Millea dropped their seminal single “Little Bit of Sunshine” during lockdown. It may be a rough demo, but if you’ve got a soul, the tender evocative nature of the release won’t fail to resonate.

The track kicks off with delicately warm Neo-Classic keys before Sean Millea’s distinctive beyond definition vocals find a perfect place atop of the ever-evolving soundscape which slides into a feat of melodically explorative Alt Indie which pulls in faint yet masterful nuances of Hip Hop while Sean Millea offers an aural experience which isn’t all too different to what you can expect from the Verve.

Little Bit of Sunshine is as absolving as music comes. Do yourselves a favour and indulge in this compassionately emotive mix.

You can check out Little Bit of Sunshine for yourselves by heading over to SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast