Browsing Tag

manchester

Mr Jones howls at the sky with new UK rap release ‘Moon In My Sky’

Posted on 12 May 2020

Manchester-based rapper Mr Jones has released new UK boom-bap infused rap track ‘Moon In My Sky’.

It’s a track steeped in decades of UK hip-hop and grime influence – a scene which has exploded in an honestly baffling number of dimensions, so much so that it has made it incredibly useless and difficult to use a ‘UK Rap’ tag, (trust me) – and ‘Moon In My Sky’ is unreservedly one of those rap-on-a-beat releases that stays in the boomy, bappy slipstream. 

Jones delivers with some nice charisma at points and there’s hints of decently formed wordplay dotted throughout the track, so there’s some elements that do shine through with this release.  

If you like independent, vintage-styled hip-hop from the UK, it’s a track I’m able to shout out to check out – but if it’s not your lane this isn’t the kind of release I’d suggest to hop into it. Still though, listen to it to gain an appreciation of the sheer numbers of UK hip-hop artists breathlessly bubbling below the surface. 

You can listen to Mr Jones’ ‘Moon In My Sky’ on his Soundcloud page.

Makayi has dropped Diamond in the Rough

Posted on 21 April 2020

Artist Makayi has dropped his latest single ‘Diamond in the Rough’ mixing a variety of different sounds together to achieve this Hip-Hop yet RnB/Soul piece.

It’s always a lot more intriguing when diverse sounds combine together and create a piece of music, in this one the start is laid back, swaying more to the slow-pace melody that flows in and out of the vocals, adding in that high energy beat that pulses through, giving it it’s Hip-Hop style.

But then switching back to that more calming and smooth sound, especially with the vocal tone, it has this soft texture and tends to be more on the flat side until stretching out to hit the high notes.

The beat flows in and out of the vocals, whilst the melody stays more on that super upbeat style the lyrics take the volume down a notch, it’s a great way of combining to different paces rather than just sticking with the same one and it still creates an interesting track.

Check out Makayi Diamond in the Rough by heading over here now.

Review by Karley Myall

Manchester rapper Mr Jones ft AEC releases new single ‘Fire’

Posted on 5 March 2020

The northern rapper Mr Jones has dropped his new single ‘’Fire’’ featuring AEC. It’s explicit, it’s straight to the point and is not afraid to speak the truth.

Fire is a Hip-hop rap track, but there are the occasional rock elements, which at first when you listen you would not expect to hear. AEC is the other artist who features on this single, he brings the deep vocals and eerie distorted guitar riffs to the up-beat rap in a way that is intriguing to listen too.

Mr Jones is not one that cares about what his lyrics say or how they could be portrayed by the listeners, instead he embraces it and creates something that he wants to be honest and real.

The way in which two completely different genres of music combined together to create Fire is what 2020 needs to be able to experiment and even if you wouldn’t normally find them compatible it can work in your favor, which is exactly what this single does.

If you want to check out Fire by Mr Jones ft AEC new single head on over to Sound Cloud.

Review by Karley Myall

The Slow Day Have Breathed New Riotous Life Back into The Manchester Music Scene with I “Can’t Sleep”

Posted on 20 January 2020

The Slow Day’s 2019 debut single “The Poet” became a playlist staple after the first time I hit play and it resulted in instantaneous infatuation.

There was something incredibly visceral about the amplified emotion poured into their ridiculously accessible feat of Indie Rock. It came without frills, but who needs frills when you’ve got sheer polished instrumental power and arrestingly expressive vocals? Supposedly, the eyes are the window to the soul, but for The Slow Day vocalist  Adam Moss, I’m inclined to believe his lies in their larynx.

They’ve followed on from their debut with the equally as resounding single “I Can’t Sleep” released on January 20th. It’s raunchy, it’s smoky, it’s psychedelic and it’s a sublime feat of Americana-inspired Alt Rock which proves that it can be done just as well on this side of the pond.

I Can’t Sleep is a gorgeous mash of reminiscences of bands such as The Black Keys with much heavier, grinding instrumental friction offered by the likes of Mudhoney and Velvet Revolver.

It’s probably the most serpentine Alt Rock earworm which you’ll hear this year. If you find a way of unsticking the tensile rhythms from your synapses, don’t tell me about it, I’m quite fond of my new neural companion.

If there’s any Manchester band worth getting excited about in 2020, it’s the Slow Day with their anthemically-charged sound. Their artist title is criminally deceptive.

You can check out I Can’t Sleep for yourselves via SoundCloud, Spotify, YouTube &  Apple Music

Keep up to date with their latest releases via Facebook. Twitter, and Instagram.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

 

Duncan Reed – Hard as Stone: A Voice to Melt the Coldest of Hearts

Posted on 6 November 2017

Manchester, UK based Duncan Reed is an alternative singer songwriter, dabbler in acoustic rock and an all-round master of melodic, effervescent resonance. His latest track Hard as Stone is one of the most melodic pieces of music that I’ve had the transcendental pleasure of listening to since I first discovered Glen Hansard.

Hard as Stone demands the illustration of his raw fingers floating over the strings of the guitar as the track spirals through the soul wrenching melody fuelled through deeply illustrative and abstract lyrics.

There’s a point in the track where his fingers delectably stumble over the strings, this was the moment that I fell in love with the pure cacophony of sound that was brought to life with just one man full of poetic synergy and his acoustic guitar. I love that there’s static toward the end of the track to entice you into the nostalgia you are treated to after a well-loved vinyl record has reached the end and you’re drenched in the white noise; the departure and the aftermath of experiencing something spectacular.

There’s a great power in his voice, although the vocals aren’t as strong as they are in his other tracks on his debut album Hypnotise; there’s a plethora of tracks that vary in the dalliance of amplification creating it a spectacularly immersive experience. You can definitely hear the Fleetwood Mac inspiration that invokes his pensive style lingering within some of the jingles of the track.

You can check out Hard as Stone, along with the other hits on his latest album on the Spotify link below!

Brooksy’s New Track ‘Just Written’ Will Make You Wish You Were Smitten

Posted on 28 October 2017

Brooksy is a UK based acoustic singer song writer; orchestrating an innocent sound for all of the modern romantics out there. The artists flits between London and Manchester, he’s certainly got the classically dulcet Manchester twang to his voice. It’s a sound that’s been infectious since the 80’s, and acts like Brooksy prove that Manchester Music won’t be laid to rest quite yet with his angelic sound revival.

Following the same beat as Pulp’s iconic hit Year 2000, it’s instantly catchy as you embrace the infusion of the iconic Manchester sound. To say that Brooksy has a unique voice would be quite an understatement, his wonderfully raw voice has the ‘boy next door’ quality that is all too easy to become infatuated with. There’s no excessive polishing of the track, the finished product sounds like a humbly blissful love song that every girl craves to hear. His voice is wonderfully raw that most would find adorable, yet some may believe to be a little awkward. I’m glad that Brooksy didn’t churn out yet another hit for the masses to indulge, that’s what makes the experience of listening to his music that little bit more enjoyable.

As a Manchester girl myself, it’s hard not to be a little biased, however he harnesses everything that bands such as Oasis, Joy Division, and The Smiths have achieved. His acoustic sound, with a wonderfully light piano arrangement to uplifts the guitar in empyreal sound to create a colossally adorable track.

Sacha Allen’s Sunshine Infused Track ‘High’

Posted on 5 September 2017

Summer may be coming to an end but Sacha Allen is determined to not let it go until she has to, proof of which can be found in her sunshine infused single High. The vibes are lazy, the vocals are soulful, the beats vibrant and the overall result is a tune that is perfect for dancing along but equally great to chill out to.

As her debut release this puts the Manchester singer firmly on the map. A song such of this from a seasoned, big name would have the industry movers and shakers clamouring to be associated with it, coming out of the blue as it does is an even bigger story and not only will those in the know marvel at how great the song is, they will also realise that this is just the first step and that the real story here is really Sacha’s potential.

A&R Factory Present: Natasha-Leigh Smith

Posted on 11 January 2017

Natasha-Leigh Smith is a young British singer/ songwriter. Born near Manchester and currently living in Liverpool.

Her genre is dark pop and all her songs are based on her own life experiences or that of close friends. She has just released her first teaser video “Omen” which has already received over 8000 plays on YouTube. The track was produced by Luke Marley & Mark Winterburn (Plan B, Nine Black Alps)

Natasha is putting the final touches to her new EP which will be released in February.

https://www.facebook.com/natashaleighmusic