Browsing Tag

Joy Division

Alt indie newcomers 20-LD have unleashed their foreboding dark earworm, ‘Feel It Now’.

Alt-indie newcomers 20-LD have released yet another transfixing track onto the airwaves with the release of their latest single, ‘Feel It Now’. It comes with the same atmospheric chill as Joy Division, Covenant-style darkwave beats and static choppy guitar progressions that cut through the reverb that bleeds from the synth notes.

With a few psychotropic tones laced into the dark earworm under forebodingly magnetic vocals that will be a hit with any fans of the Editors, it’s safe to say that 20-LD’s sound holds as much distinction as it does commercial potential.

The optimism that rings through in the higher notes feels like the ultimate feat of defiance in this timely melancholic release that pulls sheer ingenuity out of the dark. We can’t wait to see where this lockdown-born artist takes their sound next.

Feel It Now is now available to stream via Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

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

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

Mercury Teardrop – Everlight: 80s Post Punk meets Sonically Absorbing Ambient Electronica

Fans of 80s Post Punk will definitely want to greet the chilling atmospheric synths and analogue guitars featured in Mercury Teardrop’s debut album Apparitions of a Dying Moon.

While each of the soundscapes is a finely orchestrated intricately textured feat of escapism, the best introduction to Mercury Teardrop’s sound is undoubtedly the fourth single, “Everlight”.

With tones which tear through you and the absorbingly unpredictable progressions in the extended-length track, listening to Everlight is a full-body experience. After hearing the album at home, I now have a visceral need for Mercury Teardrops’ walls of deftly crafted noise to hit me live.

Mercury didn’t just pay homage to bands such as Joy Division, the Cure, Depeche Mode and Talk Talk with their debut. He reinvented perpetually cutting energy of Post Punk whilst also weaving their love for Ambient Electronica into the sonically blissful mix.

All songs written, performed and produced by Bradley Roger Baum.

You can stream Everlight along with the rest of Mercury Teardrop’s debut album which was released on June 6th via Spotify.

Connect with the artist and stay up to date with future releases via Instagram.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Mysterious ‘Ortaka’ simmers the pot with moody & masterful Electronic ‘’Last City Of England’’

https://soundcloud.com/ortaka/last-city-of-england/s-kLoLr67GRWt?in=ortaka/sets/tinku/s-ZaGfJBuEOtX

Love the leader, love the leader. Buckets of blood. You get the idea. This is a moody masterpiece really, with it’s dark undertones and badass beat. I feel like I’m in a video game, somehow trapped but finding ways out. This music is so trippy but I like it.

‘’Last City Of England’’ is the lead single off the new 2nd album by Ortaka, continuing to explore an eclectic range of influences and techniques, songs and instrumentals. He describes his music as Indie Rock/ Electronic and I feel like it should be called Ortaka music. 

This is really fascinating music and the full album is set for release on 29th May 2020. Instrumentals, drum and bass to noise rock influences are a plenty here. I would love to jam out with good friends like my buddy Dan to this as he’s such a huge drum & bass fan. 

I like the ruggedness of the ‘Orteka’ creations and I can’t quite work it all out. Perhaps that is the point, you aren’t supposed to. Just enjoy it and listen at a very high volume. 

This is an artist not to be ignored so click here on the SoundCloud link and be amazed.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen