Browsing Tag

New Wave Pop

In Reverse – Ready: Soul-Driven Indie Synthpop  

Posted on 30 January 2021
In Reverse

If you could imagine what it would sound like if the 1975 and the Midnight met in the middle while incorporating elements of soul pop in the style of Maroon 5, you’ll get an idea of the stylistic melding which took place for In Reverse to create their latest single ‘Ready’.

The Oslo-based Norwegian Pop band’s approach to Pop may break free of the usual constraints which Pop artists find themselves bound by when they’re writing tracks with commercial potential in mind, but their sound is all the more immersive for it.

The unpredictably progressive electronic pop hit blends elements of contemporary synthpop with hints of indie jangle pop which are palpable in the guitar progressions, yet, Ready still unravels without experimentalism being the main focus. It’s a track which makes sure that the sentiment it was inspired by is harmonically hammered home. It may leave you with a little bit of procrastination guilt, but if any track is going to leave you psyched to attack everything you have been deliberating on, it’s this one.

The ‘Rona may have hindered In Reverse’s plans of aural domination, but on the basis of Ready, we can’t imagine they’ll let anything as small as a global pandemic get in the way.

Ready was released on January 15th, you can check it out for yourselves by heading over to In Reverse’s official website.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Lina and the Lions – This Fire: 80s Synthpop with a K-Pop Kick

Posted on 30 January 2021

‘This Fire’ is the first single to be released from the forthcoming debut album ‘Second Nature’ by UK-based artist Lina and the Lions which revives the New Wave 80s Pop sound with a K-Pop kick.

With shimmering glassy synths and melodic hooks, sharp enough to ensure that this entrancing earworm isn’t easily forgotten, fans of 80s Pop and contemporary dark Pop alike are going to encounter a playlist staple when they delve into this amorously visceral and stylistic release.

The instrumentals may be cutting and atmospheric, but Lina Lane’s soulfully effervescent art-pop vocals burst through and demonstrate her ability to make higher pitches resonate with infectiously high-energy soul. It’s hard not to get excited about the potential of Lina and the Lions. They’ll be releasing their album gradually over 2021. Get them on your radar.

This Fire is available to stream via Spotify now. For more information on Lina and the Lions head over to their official website.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Lance Houck swings back to the 60s with their single ‘With All My Heart’

Posted on 1 January 2021
https://lancehouck.bandcamp.com/track/with-all-my-heart

Upbeat, poppy, light and airy, with a distinct sixties/seventies vibe, carried in on a wave of woo-hoo-hoos and jingly clean guitar, comes ‘With All My Heart’, the new single from Californian singer-songwriter Lance Houck. Sunny, uplifting, and full of those happy West Coast vibes, ‘With All My Heart’, from Houck’s seven-track album ‘Unborn’, is a gem of a single, catchy, vibey, with as-you-might-expect elements of the Beach Boys, Jan and Dean, and The Lovin’ Spoonful.

There’s some nice guitar work too, Houck playing all instruments as well as taking on vocal duties, pushy drums, and a cute little rolling bassline, Houck’s vocal is well-delivered and tuneful, the track overall a proper little summery ear-worm which might be a nice little antidote to current UK Tier 4 Lockdown restrictions.

You can hear ‘With All My Heart’ on Bandcamp, and follow Lance Houck on Facebook.

Review by Alex Holmes

Sebastian Akselberg offers lovelorn anguish around instrumental resolving bliss in “Wish You Were Lonely”

Posted on 14 September 2020

There’s no preparing you for the resolving bliss found in Norwegian and Russian trailblazing Pop artist Sebastian Akselberg’s single “Wish You Were Lonely”.

As you listen to the all too relatable lyrics which poignantly capture the lacerating feeling of watching someone move on while you’re still caught up in them, the light an invitingly textured feat of Alt-Pop will draw you deeper into the track until you reach a stunning synth solo with cavernous spaces around Sebastian Akselberg’s porously evocative vocals. But the track doesn’t end there, before the seamless fade out, there’s a final kick of momentum which affirms the level of passion which the artist projected into this mix.

I have a feeling it will be quite a while before I get those spacey airy indulgent tones out of my head.

You can check out Sebastian Akselberg’s latest single Wish You Were Here along with the rest of their 2020 album Amare via Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Blacktate has made their debut with the transfixing Alt Indie Pop EP “While the World’s on Fire”

Posted on 31 January 2020

Up and coming Alt Indie Pop artist Blackstate has made their debut with the eclectically-inspired endearingly unforgettable debut EP “While the World’s on Fire”.

With the first track “Wolves” allowing you to dive in headfirst into the cathartic instrumental experimentalism and grounding lyrics. You instantly get a taste of Blackstate’s refreshingly distinctive songwriting approach. There’s a palpable visceral feel to each element of the soundscape, from the lyrics to the vocals to the melodies which carry the perfect pinch of melancholy while exuding fragile optimism.

The second track “Lost My Crown” will allow you to imagine what it would sound like if Elliott Smith experimented with synths. If I wasn’t emotional after the first single, I definitely was when I fell into the pensive grips of Lost My Crown.

With track three “The Arsonist” Blacktate has switched up their sound once more, offering a bass-heavy EDM-driven mix which incorporates elements of Darkwave EBM which wouldn’t sound out of place in a sticky goth club.

Track four “Tulips” offers yet another instrumentally-driven mix, this time, there’s elements of glitchy analogue beats which almost flirt with Drum and Bass yet the track never breaks from its mellifluous concordance.

The concluding single “Dancing Wolves” revives 80s Synth Pop under a brand new effervescent guise, if you hadn’t already warmed to the vocals and their charmingly devilish experimentalism, this is where it hits hard.

If you’re anything like me, you’ll deal with the fact that the world is a little bit depressing right now by immersing yourself in resonant music which makes you feel not quite as alone in your existentialism. For this purpose, I can’t recommend Blackstate enough. In their own words, here’s what they had to say about the EP:

“Blackstate is about Friday. Two o’clock. About almost surviving another day. Another week. About the weekend and about getting f*cked. About how social media is great. About eating a burger. About the “good life”. About cat videos. About being sane. About the fact that anxiety is perfectly normal. About the fact that insecurity is (not) a fear of the future self. About more cat videos. About not needing the truth. About being a wolf. About an angry emoji. Love emoji. About how this country sucks, but you’re really okay. You’re happy. You’re sane. One day less alive.”

You can check out Blackstate’s EP which dropped on January 25th for yourselves by heading over to Spotify.

Keep up to date with the latest releases and tour info from the band via Facebook.

Review by Amelia Vandergast