Browsing Tag

manchester

Showing them how its done: David Rey shows superior skills on the mic with the excellent ‘Days & Nights’

Posted on 23 February 2021

David Rey shows us what quality Hip-Hop in 2021 sounds like, as he is putting in ‘Days & Nights‘ to elevate his craft to that legendary level of respect, for the true music fans.

Bermondsey, London-born, Manchester-based fast-rising Hip Hop artist David Rey, makes that gritty type of music that shows his lyrical sword-like abilities on the mic to full effect. He is been through the ups and downs in life, so is perfectly positioned to deliver those real street stories that aren’t fabricated or twisted to fool anyone. A real artist with bags of potential, he is keeping his head down under the traitorous fake hype, so that he can see clearly and not get smoked out by all the greedy noise- that can destroy even the smartest man.

Signed to Mic Check Management (MCM) at the start of 2019, his unique journey is one that is on a wave that might of been slowed down by covid-19 like most musicians, but seems to have that extra inner self-motivation to put in those extra late nights, to reach his own lofty goals.

The hauntingly intense beat busts through the fragile door and sparks vividly into life with a hungry rapper who shows that lyrical prowess on the mic, that is only improving over time like a fine wine. Getting better is the aim, not being hot for a week and then flaming out like a gassed out oven.

‘Days & Nights‘ from the phenomenally skillful Manchester emcee David Rey, is a real lesson to the youngsters out there that want to get into music. It isn’t about the likes or how cool you look, its actually about working hard on your chosen craft so that you can last as long as possible in this game and be widely acclaimed, as being the best at what you do.

Putting in those extra hours is tough sledding but feeling like you have achieved something special, is a priceless feeling that can never be bought.

Stream this real message on Spotify and see more visuals on IG.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Throw me a hand: Moodbay are underwater and ‘Alone’ on sensational new electro-pop stunner

Posted on 16 February 2021

Moodbay show their ever-increasing greatness on the flourishing new single taken off their latest ambitious sixteen-track release, that will have you in a reflective mood when you are ‘Alone‘.

Manchester-based electro mood-pop two-piece act Moodbay, are fused together by Darlington-born pianist/singer Anna Stephens and pianist/producer/songwriter Alfie Cattell from Denbigh (Little Fortress) in Wales, who make that saucy edm, r&b and classically intertwined music, that makes your heart skip a few beats and gets your body grooving like it was pre-lockdown.

After meeting at the BIMM Institute in Manchester almost four years ago via a mysterious corridor, you can feel how in-sync the pair are, as they transform the dull room into an electric experience of bright lights and sonic soundscapes, that are so spectacularly illuminating.

Her voice echos eerily throughout as the vocals seep into your skin and give you the shivers. The pure class is undeniable and meshed with world class production, you get the feeling that you are listening to a duo that are going to be absolutely massive, if they stay patient and carry on making this immensely captivating music for the soul.

‘Alone‘ from Welsh/English electro mood-pop act Moodbay, is a late-night daze-dream through the mind and into the other side of your consciousness. This is that underwater rescue from your lifeguard, after you have sunk deep, and need saving from yourself.

When you are falling deep, you need someone to help wake you up before you sleep for good, as time is of the essence and there is not a moment to lose in this short life of ours. This is a magnificence single that shows you why you need good friends, to grab your hand, kill the noise and lift you up to soar brightly again.

Hear this wonderfully striking song on Spotify and see their story on IG.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Love looks good on you: Sleep Walking Animals drop stunning debut ‘Aengus’ Fool’

Posted on 15 February 2021

Introducing us to their music for the first time, Sleep Walking Animals stroll in confidently with their debut track ‘Aengus’ Fool‘, which is a self-described confession of infatuation and desire.

Sleep Walking Animals are your new favorite invigorating five-piece indie folk/rock band from Manchester who also spend a lot of time in London. They have been inspiring by the current world pandemic to finally get their music out there to be heard all over the globe. The close-knit group make that deep introspective kind of music that has so many layers, you might need to get that warm coat on.

They have been waiting for so long to have released music and you can hear the band in top form, Tom Glynn-Carney’s voice projects tremendously over the willing guitars, the smoldering class of this actor/musician is smokey cool and fantastically etched all over the curious walls, as he goes to ear-bending notes you feel in your bones and will never forget.

These are the underground legends that haven’t been crowned yet, the quality is utterly incredible as they toy with your soul, the sound of genuine world class musicians at work is a feeling you just know instantly.

This is the story about waiting for them to come home as you care about them so much and want to be with them so badly, you will shout from the highest mountains to let the world know of your intentions.

‘Aengus’ Fool‘ from the thrilling Manchester/London, UK act Sleep Walking Animals, is an awakening story of desire that can either turn into healthy love or overboard infatuation, if you take the boat too far into the ocean.

The long journey to this point was absolutely worth the wait. We would be fools not to want more and to ignore this outstanding group of talented men, who have manifested their desires into this delightful debut.

Stream this reflective track on Spotify and follow their travels on IG.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Time to ditch the filter: Gybz (feat. Madslee) is the truthful warning about the perils of social media in modern day society on ‘Plastic Kisses’

Posted on 11 February 2021

Gybz (feat. Madslee) is the debut song from these two incredible creatives and they send us a message that we all need to heed on ‘Plastic Kisses‘.

British-Asian musician/producer Gybz joined forces with Ecuadorian artist Madslee for this catchy new indie pop/electronic single that they have been keen to release for a while now.

After becoming friends while attending University in Manchester, they formed an unbreakable bond after shared music interests and also of this very important topic of a different life on social media for some. They explore this scary world on a tender song you will find hard to ignore, as the simmering beat and exhilarating vocals seeps into your body perfectly.

Social media can be so fake and its so great to hear a message like this about a subject that is often ignored and swept under the mouse. Being real to yourself and your friends is so vital, otherwise you can get lost under the filters and never emerge like you were before again, lost to the real world forever.

The sad reality is that somehow so many have been brain-washed into thinking that you need to look like Insta models to be liked when actually, that is so far from the truth. With the personal touch, these two talented musicians bring light to such a vital topic on a song you will want to play again and again.

‘Plastic Kisses‘ from UK’s  Gybz (feat. Madslee) is a truly defining song of current and future mental health warnings for those that have unfortunately been taken into the social media space ship. Having honest friends and family around you that can steer you into the right direction, has never been more important than it is today.

Ultimately you don’t want to be with someone that was so incredible before and kisses you with their tender lips, to then be consumed by their looks and return to be somewhere else when you see them again. Staying in reality is the only way to be truly happy long-term after all.

Hear the realness on YouTube and see the social journey on IG.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Genre merge-benders: Manchester fast-risers Maruja stomp down the house with ‘Rage’

Posted on 27 December 2020

Maruja are back with a powerful new song and the 4-piece act certainly deliver a track that is full of ‘Rage‘.

Manchester’s Post-Punk Jazzy Alt Rock crew Maruja certainly make ferocious music that growls like a hungry Lion that skipped lunch. The highly rated newcomers passion is easy on the ear and tremendous to vibe with, as the UK band smash through with their electric energy that might cause power outages from all the piping hot electricity.

The ominous opening sets a benchmark that swerves in with an alto sax sound that adds so much intrigue to an already catchy track as the mood is set in stone with a newly sharpened knife. The bass and drums feel like they been injected with superpowers as it meshes with the strong vocals that bellow out, reflecting the moment and getting the frustration out with the shaking mic taking a battering.

This is the story about having that extra acidic fire in your blood flow, your vision goes black as something or someone takes over your thoughts for a few fleeting moments. The raging bull inside you has blows a gasket and your teeth clench so tightly as you think about that person that has engulfed your feelings and you aren’t at all yourself right now.

Sometimes we lose ourselves for a while and we need strong friends to hold us back, calm us down and help us to see reason. Manchester’s Maruja are quite excellent on the powerfully constructed ‘Rage‘ as their uniquely brilliant music heats up a freezing lockdown December.

Head through to the Spotify page for this banging tune and see their story on IG.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Debut days: ‘Classic Weekender’ from Manchester rock band Sterling reminisces on those wild weekends

Posted on 3 December 2020

Manchester based indie-rock band Sterling get us in the mood via their debut track ‘Classic Weekender’ and this is a quality release from the new boys.

The explosive start is like a fuse that has been lit and is still sparking bright. Their fierce energy is so welcome in these dark times and this is an Indie Rock thump that knocks the door down to let everyone know that they mean business.

The Manchester boys made the wise move of using the legendary studio Vibe Recording Studios in Cheetham Hill. You can feel that this is going to be a band that will make noise in the UK music scene as they are building their name up to make maximum impact.

With their first EP ‘Billy Boy’ being carefully crafted as we speak and set for release in early 2021, this is the first taste that we have gotten and we want more. The lyrics are honest and reminisce for the fun days of the weekend when we could all go out and not blink twice. The story of going out and having a fun time without a worry in the world.

This has that 90’s Brit feel to it and the bass-lines are so rhythmical and get you in the mood to go down to your local and chat with your mates with a cold brew in hand. This is that Friday night vibe when the lights are on and the conversation is loud and where memories are made.

Sterling from Manchester, UK bring out a debut to remember on ‘Classic Weekender’ and this is the tune to play real loud during those nights that you wish could return to normal again.

Fire up your Friday nights on Spotify and see more of the band on their IG & FB.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

The Ruby Tears launch their first ‘Satellite’ and are about to hit orbit

Posted on 29 November 2020
https://therubytears.bandcamp.com/track/satellite-2

Formed at the start of the first Covid 19 lockdown in March by Manchester musician and former frontman of John Peel punk-pop picks The Bloody Marys John Goodfellow and Jeff Skellon (former bassist with 80’s Liverpool favourites Lalabambam), ‘The Empty Heart EP’ – the third (yes count ‘em) release from The Ruby Tears – shows just what can be achieved by ‘remote working’, Goodfellow and Skellon not (yet) actually having met in the flesh.

Working instead from their respective home studios during the pandemic, with ‘Satellite’ the pair have crafted a piece of classic, seventies-styled-yet-updated New Wave pop-rock in the vein of The Attractions, The Stanglers, or Magazine.

There’s some stellar guitar work from Skellon, all percussive muted strumming and mellow, ‘woman-tone’ lead, Goodfellow’s vocal laid-back and gruff in the way that all good rock music should be, the ‘with the words you never said’ refrain sticking around long after the final notes of Skellon’s guitar have died away. ‘Classic’ is an overused word these days, but ‘Satellite’ is a slice of classic New Wave in the best possible way; climb on board with The Ruby Tears, because there’s every chance this is going to go stellar.

The ‘Empty Heart EP’ drops across streaming platforms on the 4th December. You can listen to ‘Satellite’ on Bandcamp, and follow The Ruby Tears on Facebook.

Review by Alex Holmes

Manchester rapper Ice D spits real street stories on ‘Felony’

Posted on 15 November 2020

Manchester rapper Ice D spits real street stories on ‘Felony‘. This is a raw track that has a freestyle type vibe to it and this hits home real hard.

With an original style and plenty and trap-filled busty beats that bounce around like the real word on the streets. Life comes real fast and you need to know the time to survive. This young rapper has a rap delivery that seems to improve as the track going on, a true sign of things that are to come.

Life can get real so quickly and with stories of what goes down in the dark alleys, portrays a musician who knows who he is and this isn’t some lame fake track unlike a lot of the new Hip Hop out there. Expect big things if he can maintain focus and not get wrapped up and gassed with all the easy temptations of the music game that can be so harsh for the naive. Ice D is only getting started on ‘Felony‘.

Click here for the Spotify link.

Head to the Insta for more info.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Celebrate your insanity with Bones Shake’s psychiatrically scuzzy latest single ‘Unwell’

Posted on 13 November 2020

Manchester’s most volatile purveyors of super-charged Garage Rock, Bones Shake, dropped their latest single ‘Unwell’ on November 13th. If you’ve been involved in a clandestine relationship with your insanity during lockdown, cast the shame away with this psychiatrically scuzzy aptly timed release.

You can practically smell the aseptic stench of institutionalised sickness behind the raucously electric production which tugs at the undying roots of Rock n Roll while sonically shifting the raucous tones into the 21st century.

I almost feel pity for neurotypicals who won’t get to gorge on the catharsis offered by the most electrifying release, to date, from the lauded Rock n Roll provocateurs.

It’s the perfect scuzzy Garage Rock playlist staple for those long and cold disquiet nights. It’s a far safer option than listening to The Smiths.

Unwell is available to stream and purchase via Bandcamp.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Manchester Rock-Art act Sylvette drop the stunningly unique ‘Kelpius (NoShadow Remix)’ with Tom Chapman

Posted on 12 November 2020

With an innovative sound that breathes new life into your cold cup of tea, this is a kaleidoscopic mesh of styles that is quite frankly..absolute genius.

Sylvette are a UK based, Manchester Art-Rock band of supremely creative energies, all smoothly synced into one like music should be made. They are so galaxy-searchingly incredible to listen to. With an indie core that has an added element of exciting electronic waves that are wrapped around this new single so perfectly. With New Order & Bad Lieutenant bassist Tom Chapman featured here on the remix, this is an excellent track with tasty treats to fill up our hungry music senses, with an absolute feast to satisfy us.

This is the type of song that takes you into a new world and you have deja-vu somehow. The UK act are a morph of many different influences and you can’t stop listening. This is what music will sound like in 20 years as this is a band that is so far ahead of their time. ‘Kelpius (NoShadow Remix)‘ with Tom Chapman is an awe-inspiring effort that deserves a place with the best songs of 2020.

Find out more about Sylvette on their Facebook and hear this track on Spotify.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen