Browsing Tag

south wales

Feeling Lost: Welsh artist Jake Weller wonders who actually cares on Quiet Town

Posted on 8 December 2022

Taken off his popular 12-track album from 2021 called Wasting Time, Jake Weller opens up the door and shows us those mental health scars which took many years to vanquish on the excellent Quiet Town.

Jake Weller is a Porthcawl, South Wales-based indie alt-pop/rock singer-songwriter who has dynamic vocals and makes music that actually matters.

”He hopes that by being vocal about his experiences, he can provide comfort to his listeners who may be going through the same things.” ~ Jake Weller

Feeling lost and so frustrated with a sleepy town that feels somehow so distant, Jake Weller performs with so much impressive passion and intense focus. Gosh, this is a magnificent song. Turn it up on full, will you? Your heart will thank you.

Quiet Town from Porthcawl, South Wales-based alt-pop/rock singer-songwriter Jake Weller, is a brilliant sizzler which shall open the eyes of many. With an atmosphere that is truly mesmerizing, this is an outstanding track which belongs in all of our playlists.

Don’t forget to smile at someone who looks lonely next time. You could change everything.

Listen up on Spotify. See more news on IG.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Left The House: jon penny brushes his teeth and brings us back to his youth on Still Smilin’

Posted on 28 August 2022

After moving away from the band life in order to pursue his mission to be a successful solo artist, jon penny opens the door and forgets his coat but has managed to stay beaming throughout it all on the memory-filled single Still Smilin‘.

jon penny is a South Wales-based drum and bass fueled, rock-saturated and hip hop-foamed bundle of absolute joy for the speakers to bathe happily inside.

”Taking inspiration from lyricists such as Leonard Cohen and Kendrick Lamar, jon plans to push his music through his own label and brand A.B.O.V.E.” ~ jon penny showing us where his inspiration comes from and the future vision

Taking us through his life that includes lots of tragedy, stories of not studying too much, and lessons for us all to learn from, jon penny has a crisp technique that is rather pleasing on our nippy ears. His vocals are fresh and rather memorable, while his honest lyrics will probably make many smile and possibly cry too.

Still Smilin‘ from South Wales-based multi-genre solo artist jon penny is a character-packed single from a determined figure who has decided that life needs to be lived. Shepherding us through his movie-like life that has had many difficulties, that haven’t drowned his mood at all. In fact, the opposite. Laden with authentic stories and leading us into his memorable smile while singing into our hearts, this should bring hope to so many who have experienced so much trauma recently.

When you decide to smile instead of frown, your universe shall be loaded with exciting possibilities.

Check out this fine release on Spotify and see all the travels on IG.

Reviewed by Llewelyn

Welsh band Revolution Rabbit Deluxe return with a message to the entitledness which is destroying the world on, ‘POUT’

Posted on 1 May 2022
POUT by Revolution Rabbit Deluxe

Born deep in the chilly trenches of the hard-working South Wales valleys, Revolution Rabbit Deluxe are in pinnacle-conquering form with their entertaining new single that sends shade to those who think they are too cool for everything on, ‘POUT‘.

Revolution Rabbit Deluxe is a Swansea, UK-based indie three-piece post-punk band that has constructed one of the catchiest songs so far in 2022.

”The song came after a jam session early in 2020. During the instrumental, I sang, “DO THE POUT!” The remaining lyrics fell into place after that.” So what is the POUT? “I think it’s the feeling we all have had as children and can still have as adults. A child crying over not getting ice cream, and grown men and women who feel entitled to have the world revolve around them like they’re the hero in their own movie.” ~ Ben from Revolution Rabbit Deluxe

Shaking their tails and causing us to smile and beam all at the same time, Revolution Rabbit Deluxe have that cheeky style that makes you think that they would actually take the time to have a chat with you after the show. There is so much goodness here in a song so likeable, you might tell your neighbour about it while you are both out in the garden.

‘POUT‘ from Swansea, UK-based indie three-piece post-punk band Revolution Rabbit Deluxe is a track that will have you tapping your feet and clapping in admiration, for an outfit who are totally themselves. There are zero fake braggadocios elements here, only realness and an honest vibe that is made with that fantastic Welsh charm. This is a track to play loud and plentiful, as we are naturally intertwined with such glorious genuineness that is probably creatively contagious.

Listen up to this awesome new single on Bandcamp and see more via their IG page.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Debut To Remember: Cardiff band Nine Lives send our hearts into a spin with fast-paced gem ‘Cutthroat Friends’

Posted on 2 May 2021
https://soundcloud.com/user-196727800/cutthroat-friends/s-WHnKIvgmsud

With a stunning sound and mysteriously tinged vocals that has you mighty impressed, Nine Lives show us what they are made of with the sharp-as-a-knife debut single called ‘Cutthroat Friends‘.

Nine Lives is a noisy Cardiff, South Wales two-piece indie garage-rock band with a panache for lifting the lid off the room, as they swirl their sound to levels of massive enjoyment.

The intense guitar booms throughout the nervous room — as you close your eyes and let the rhythm soak your hungry soul — into believing that quality edgy music is still out there. They breathe that hot fire into your mind, as you are listening to a passionate band that have been perfecting their craft and are ready for anything.

Fans of Queens of the Stone Age will love this, as their raging energy blows in hot and never cools down, as you immerse yourself into their rugged message that you has you automatically turning the volume up to red.

‘Cutthroat Friends’ from top shelf South Wales indie garage-rock act Nine Lives, is the fuzzy riff jam you have been waiting for. They storm into our lives with this debut song that you will find impossible to forget easily.

Stream this new single on Soundcloud and find out more on IG.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

The outsiders create their own genre: Cardiff’s Exsil roam through the night with growling abandon on ‘Jumping At Shadows’

Posted on 18 December 2020

South Wales Industrial act Exsil are back with a mysterious marvel of a track via their new electronic-fused song ‘Jumping At Shadows‘.

Taken off the brand new thirteen track album ‘Disavowed‘ that dropped on the 10th December 2020- and released through Urban Planning Records– this is a sound that is in its own lane and swerves when and where it wants.

The speaker-busting bass heavy electronic breaks smash through the years slumber and makes your tired heart’s blood flow heat up again. The cold winter is coming and there is no Jon Snow but no fear; the Welsh dragons blow such fire from their creation and you won’t need to turn on the heaters for this one.

I mistakenly had my laptops volume of full voltage at the start of this track and almost fell off my chair. After a quick laugh, I then started again- albeit a bit softer than before- but then organically found myself gradually turning this up and getting my stomp on.

”A soundtrack for empty bus shelters at 3am, wet tarmac, clicking exchanges, abandoned buildings and dirty alleyways.”- Exsil

This really says it all and this is that sticky floor sliding music in the empty areas that goes to waste usually. The bass is so thudding and you can feel the 80’s and 90’s influences as this is when dance music was at it’s best. This reminds me of being in that sweaty club when I was 18 with zero worries in the world, being with mates, shouting at each other and hearing half the words; good times that are entrenched into your mind forever.

The analog synths break the flailing windows of the neighbor next door, this is the Trainspotting type music that inspires you us all to get that couch-sitting body off the slouch, instead closing your eyes and ripping through with those dusted off dance moves you have been waiting to explore again.

‘Jumping At Shadows‘ from South Wales genre-creators Exsil is a stomping song that needs to be heard at full volume and with mates that appreciate quality music. This will bend your mind and make that heart beat so fast you might need CPR.

Hear this Welsh band via Soundcloud and also support on Bandcamp.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Meeting aliens on the way home: ‘Close Encounter On The Road To Solva’ from Spurious Transients is a psychedelic tale of a strange meeting

Posted on 21 November 2020
Something Strange Came Out Of The Skies by Spurious Transients

The humming beat makes the hairs on your back stand up to attention, your neck shivers as you feel rather anxious all of a sudden. The sounds of mystery morphs into your body, and your heart starts to beat so much faster. ‘Close Encounter On The Road To Solva‘ from the earth-defying South West Wales Electronic-Psychedelia band Spurious Transients, is a new song that isn’t from our planet.

The eerily expressive vocals tell the story so vividly, the poetic style sticks in your mind as you wonder if you have also seen strangeness like this before. The words bite hard like a hungry lion, you are soon transported into this strange world, that is usually only in Hollywood movies. The details are so precise, drawing you in like a good story-teller does.

You get lost in the dark woods, the rustle in the song is constant as the harrowing beat gets you into a paranoid mood. Your heart is a bit scared and you peer outside the window quietly, just to make sure you are safe right now. The Welsh accent you hear shows the fear of this moment, and the details are so fascinating to hear, as you listen along to see how the story unfolds.

This strange occurrence is quite freaky at times as your breaths are short, this story too real to do anything else, Spurious Transients bring their original sound that is like none other on ‘Close Encounter On The Road To Solva‘. This is a ride that will get your heart beating extra fast, and is so uniquely genius.

Hear this mysterious story on their Bandcamp.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

French Alps Tiger majestically claw into our souls with ‘Let Me Down’

Posted on 6 August 2020

‘Let Me Down‘ is the brand new track from the exciting indie-rock 3 piece band from South Wales, French Alps Tiger.

French Alps Tiger are Russ, Duffy, Jess and Durke. The band are named after the elusive Tiger found only in the French Alps of South Wales. They like writing music that reminds them of being young kids and playing shows that reminds you of this innocence too.

I love the raw vocals here that just seen to get better and better after each note. The drums are rhythmical and the guitar strings are played with much skill. This is a classic song from this fine young band.

‘Let Me Down‘ is a sad song really due to the lyrical content. This is about being let down and feeling that soreness inside. You feel like you didn’t really deserve and want to know what you did wrong.

French Alps Tiger are a top Welsh band that are making their way in this wild music industry and I really like ‘Let Me Down‘. I feel very reflective and love the sound of the band. This is an act to certainly support.

Stream here on Spotify to hear this awesome track.

Click here to find out more on Facebook.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

A&R Factory Present: Chey

Posted on 27 April 2017

Hailing from South Wales Valleys, the independent singer songwriter Chey has released a new studio endeavor, a track entitled ‘She’s Got You.’ The elegantly produced single is an insight into how Chey is infusing modern pop and R&B elements into a rather sophisticated sound unto herself. ‘She’s Got You’ is streaming now on SoundCloud and doing quite well amongst Chey’s fanbase. Is the praise deserved? Let’s delve into the single and find out!

Aside from Chey, the most vital element of ‘She’s Got You’ is the compelling production design. It’s masterfully scored with light synthesizer sections, a reverberated piano, and tactful beats that don’t overpower the music at all. The most unique factor in the soundscape, however, is a male vocal that’s autotuned in a particularly eclectic fashion, essentially offering a beat-like interlude every time he sings. Outside of select experimental hip hop records, this is an unusual occurrence, but it works so well for Chey.

As for Chey’s performance, her voice is terrific. She hits all of her notes with perfect ease, and it’s clear her voice hasn’t been manipulated or augmented. She’s a natural vocalist for this R&B-tinged pop sound, and her having Amy Winehouse amongst her cited influences isn’t surprising at all. Lyrically, she exhibits herself as a strong songwriter, too. ‘She’s Got You,’ while simplistic, is a haunting, melancholy journey through pining for somebody who already has a significant other. It’s a beautiful, but very sad song.

Chey showcases she has quite strong chops for a relatively new indie artist on the scene. She’s even released a more dance-oriented remix of ‘She’s Got You,’ and that’s a well done track, too. If this single is indicative of her larger output to come, she’s an artist worth keeping close tabs on. ‘She’s Got You’ is pop music done right, and I love the creativity that went into the production and execution of the songwriting.


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