Browsing Tag

virtual band

Maverick lived up to their moniker with their folksy easy listening debut single, I love coffee culture

The debut single, I love coffee culture, from Maverick is a tongue-in-cheek, bean-in-cup twee triumph. The twinkling piano keys atop the simple yet as delicious as a caramel macchiato easy guitar chords orchestrate the same kind of laidback atmosphere you would want to sink into in your favourite den of caffeine as the vocals prove it is the small things in life, especially if those small things are made by the hands of a barista who can take the mundanity of the corporate world away.

It is somewhat ironic that Maverick is a virtual band composing songs for tangible experiences, but given the sticky-sweet feel-good factor of the folksy easy listening release, we can easily forgive the band spearheaded by the song crafter and vocalist, John Crystal and feel stoked for the singles we have been promised will follow. We already need our next fix.

I love coffee culture was officially released on October 4; stream it on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Ai Kittens bring in the future of mid-tempo metal with their AI-generated single, Alone with Yourself – Gen 103.

As we move through the rapid reforms in our digital spaces, it was only a matter of time before an AI band started to use neural networks to generate songs. At the vanguard of digital pioneering in this corner is Ai Kittens. To date, they have released over 150 authentically arranged tracks based on Rage Against the Machine and the licks of Tom Morello.

In this instance, in all sincerity, we can confirm that Ai Kittens are bringing in the future of mid-tempo metal. For RATM and Morello fans, Ai Kittens single, Alone with Yourself – Gen 103, is the perfect introduction to their atmospheric sound, swaggering rock guitars and ability to use technology in a way that completely reinvents music.

We do not doubt that there will be plenty of rock purists quick to criticise the nature of this project, but we have to hand it to Ai Kittens for their ingenuity. This method of ‘mining’ music which evades the usual copywriting issues with sampling, has all the potential to better the airwaves in the future.

Alone with Yourself is now available to stream on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast