Browsing Tag

Mansun

Columbia’s Craig Lewis Opened a New Chapter with His Debut Single, Everything’s Changing’ in His Sonic Rebirth Solo Project

Posted on 3 May 2024

The disbanding of Columbia was a bitter pill to swallow in 2022, but if anything can sugar it, it is the debut single from frontman Craig Lewis, who has lost none of his strength as a one-man powerhouse in his new project, Those Heavy Souls.

“Everything’s Changing” is a far more lyrically intimate exhibition of Lewis’ artistic edge, whereas the alt-90s and 00s indie aesthetic, inspired by Kasabian, The Stone Roses, and Doves, remains just as infectiously robust. As you mourn the pace at which our society is disintegrating from recognition, you’re caught up in the kinetically tight, flawlessly produced mourning of what we’ve lost in recent years. Everything’s Change is the ultimate salve for the socialist soul looking for a semblance of sanity and sanctuary.

Lewis’ ability to take a deeply lamentable subject and augment it into a rhythmically compelling hit is a sure-fire testament to the fact that Columbia may have never reached the stadiums that they were well equipped for, but that hasn’t got in the way of Lewis delivering euphoric swagger infused with a quintessentially British sense of ennui.

We already can’t wait to hear what is lingering in the pipeline from the artist who knows exactly how to hark back to the nostalgia of the Britpop era without assimilating. He isn’t just merely exploring intersections; he’s pushing boundaries to the point of deconstructing the framework of nostalgia.

Everything’s Changing will be available to stream on all major platforms from May 3^rd. Find your preferred way to listen via Those Heavy Souls’ official website.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

John Jackson burst the complacency bubble with his authentically electric Britpop-esque hit, Hero

Posted on 1 May 2024

John Jackson’s single, Hero, from his debut EP, Tomorrow, is a tour de force in alt-rock, weaving together scintillating organ tones akin to Inspiral Carpets with the harmonies reminiscent of Paul Draper. By adding the unmistakable energy of Blur and the percussive swagger of the Stone Roses, Jackson crafted a track that is authentically electric to its core.

Based in Brighton and Hove, yet carrying the spirit of his Hackney origins, Jackson delivered a sound that directly confronts the listener with its poignant lyrical messaging – “If you’re not dancing you might as well march”. The production is sharp, ensuring every word resonates with a clear call to shake off complacency. It’s a rallying cry for the outsiders, the overlooked, and those yearning for a figure to redefine the current narratives. The nostalgic elements are cleverly used as intrinsic thematic devices that highlight our tendency to bury our heads in the sand when facing future uncertainties, only to look back on the past with rose-tinted glasses.

Hero is a powerful start to Jackson’s series of planned releases, promising a blend of personal, political, and social themes delivered through his eclectic musical style. It’s a track that not only stands out for its compelling composition but also for its capacity to engage and inspire, making John Jackson a name to watch in the alt-rock arena.

Stream Hero from May 1^st on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Vanguarde anchored in nostalgia and aimed at truth in his indie rock exposition of the trappings of conspiracy theories, Lost Inside a Hole

Posted on 17 April 2024

Vanguarde’s latest single, “Lost Inside a Hole,” anchors indie rock fans in the comforting nostalgia of the 90s Britpop era, in the same vein Mansun, while delivering some uncomfortable truths to those lost in the trenches of conspiracy through fear of confronting material reality. Rather than berating, the single extends an olive branch to pull listeners back from the dark, bitter realities of conspiracy theory knitting circles.

Through each note of this expansive indie rock allegory, compassion resonates deeply, ensuring the song’s message of empathy and understanding cuts through the noise of our post-truth era. The middle eight of the song unfolds with the spectacle and heat of a dying star, offering a mind-bending experience that allows for a reawakening of critical thought amidst prevailing paranoia.

This single is an essential listen for anyone who values indie rock’s potential to challenge and deliver vindication. In our times of unparalleled division, Vanguarde is the cohesion we’ve been crying out for.

Lost Inside a Hole was officially released on March 19th; stream the single on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Steady Owl melancholically howled into the cosmos with his orchestrally elevated alt-90s hit, MOONDOG

Posted on 13 October 2023

If anyone has what it takes to reignite the mainstream momentum of indie, it is the melodic fire starter Steady Owl with their debut album, They Are All Bastards Except Us, which is due for release on October 20.

As an appetiser, the alt-indie revivalist revealed the single, MOONDOG, which pays a mellifluously fitting ode to the icons of the 90s Britpop era. The orchestrally elevated melodicism echoes the legacies of Mansun and the Manics while the cosmically compelling single drips in Transatlantic magnetism with the striking reminiscences to the more melancholic work of R.E.M.

It feels as though the entire alt-90s aural ecosystem underpins this gravity-defying release, yet at the same time, the superlative song crafter conjured something completely new to render the hearts of all indie rock nostalgists raw. Lyrically, it will throw you right back to when Pearl Jam broke your heart for the first time with their single, Black, while the cosmos is torn through by the stunning angular guitars, which know which evocative impulses to strike with every pitch and pace-perfected progression.

MOONDOG was officially released on September 14; stream it on Soundcloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

FAVORITE released the filthiest earworm of the year with DIRTY MONEY

Posted on 14 August 2021

Atlanta alt-punk pioneers FAVORITE have released their stormer of a single, DIRTY MONEY; anti-capitalist rhetoric has never been more anthemic. With a touch of Mansun and Glasvegas to the frenetic punk-rock instrumentals and the massive production, DIRTY MONEY lends brit-pop and alt-90s tones before feeding them through their scuzzed-up riffs and ensnaring hooks.

The single may serve the stark reminder that everything we do is another act in the corrupt economic system, but it also shows that there’s until there’s an alternative, we should find pleasure in whatever we can. DIRTY MONEY is enough to bring hedonism back into trend. Oscar Wilde would be proud.

DIRTY MONEY is now available to stream via Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

8udDha bl0od – The Man on the Corner: Soulfully Adrenalizing Alt Indie Blues Folk

Posted on 1 May 2020

From his earlier releases, we’ve already affirmed that 8udDha bl0od’s aural ingenuity is boundless. Yet, their accordantly passion-soaked soundscape The Man on the Corner hit the sweet spot in a way we’ve never previously heard from the Brighton-based artist.

If you could imagine what it would sound like if Johnny Marr, the Levellers, and Mansun all collaborated on an Indie Blues Folk record, you’ll get an idea of what is in store when you hit play on The Man on the Corner.

From sleek soaring arrestive guitar solos to punchy exuberant rhythms, the instrumentals move through a myriad of evolutions while 8udDha bl0od’s high-energy vocals act as the icing on the feel-good cake.

The Man on the Corner is just one of the singles from 8udDha bl0od’s album Barren Skies. You’ll be able to check out 8udDha bl0od’s music for yourselves via Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast