Lost loves. Lost feelings. Lost time. Lost emotions. Lost friends. Lost lovers.
Summer Heart have hit a chord that indeed resonates within all of us on his new single ‘Good Together”.
What if we could go back in time?
I know it’s been a while.
What if we gave it one more shot?
We have so many, many questions and not enough answers. There are, however, some answers. We can not go back in time, and when we try to, we can never capture the magic of that time. I went to a school reunion, and while I enjoyed seeing the people that I shared bus rides and classrooms with, I very quickly learned that we don’t want one more shot. All of those people got so old, why didn’t they stay young like me? And what about all the loves I have lost? It turns out that they have done very well without me.
Summer Heart, aka David Alexander, has released a new single, ‘Good Together’, ahead of the release of his EP ‘Ambitions’, which arrives on November 6th, 2020. ‘Good Together’ gives us smooth as silk synthesizers that hide the pain that lingers in the lyrics of this song. This song is an excellent teaser for Summer Heats EP arriving this fall on Icons Creating Evil Art.
Building on the success of his debut single ‘How Do You Want Me?”, Tanzos, aka Mik Tanzos, delivers another song that has top ten written all over it. ‘Birdy’, the tale of love gone wrong, is a departure from the edgier sound of HDYWM. Mik opted for a more laid back feel on ‘Birdy’ that works very well with the message in the lyrics. Dreamy synths, soft orchestration flowing along in the back, and smooth picking on the guitar set ‘Birdy’ up to be hit repeat song.
Discussing the influence behind the track, Tanzos tells us: “Birdy tells the story of a couple´s life design falling apart after compromising for too long. Naturally the song has a melancholic tone, but it is not desperate. Conciliation beats the bitterness.”
I can only hope that Mik releases a full album soon because his singles are killing me sonically. The good thing about the release of ‘Birdy’ is that I now have two songs in his playlist, it’s getting better all the time.
I was familiar with A Tribe Called Red in name only. To understand where an artist is, I like to look at what they have recorded in the past. When I received the invitation from Mystic Sons to review the new single by DJ Shub, I listened to A Tribe Called Red, which is where DJ Shub previously recorded. A Tribe Called Red have received many accolades including a Juno Award, Canada’s equivalent of a Grammy.
I don’t give out awards, but I do submit reviews, and occasionally I will grade a release with stars. For Shake Ya Bustle by DJ Shub I will give a favourable review.
I like it. Shake Ya Bustle is a bit light in the lyrics department, A Tribe Called Red used story songs frequently; however, what lyrics there are, are used very effectively. Shake Ya Bustle got stuck in my brain, even as I write this, I am nodding my head to the refrain, shake ya bustle, shake ya bustle. I probably won’t shake my bustle, but I will nod my head, tap my toe and play the song again to reinforce the earworm.
DJ Shub has taken the rhythm of traditional drums and turned it on its side with new samples and synth sounds that work like magic. I love it and look forward to hearing more from DJ Shub.
One of my favourite listens this year have been The Holy. They have a new video to go with their newest single release, The Rocket Song.
‘The Rocket Song’ tells the story of human arrogance which results in their extinction. Frontman Eetu Iivari says: “The last people living on earth decide to build a space rocket and try to go through black holes to new galaxies. But they fail, like we humans tend to do. We often think we’re unbeatable.”
Following the success of their dual-single release ‘Twilight Of The Idiots’ / No Trial In The Dark’, which received support from the likes of The Line of Best Fit and Clash Magazine; Finnish quintet, The Holy return with electric new track ‘The Rocket Song’.
Oozing with fiery guitar strings, pounding drum pulses and a touch of hallucinating synths, the group’s latest number surges with euphoria. Exploring other-worldly themes, ‘The Rocket Song’ tells the story of human arrogance which results in their extinction. Frontman Eetu Iivari says: “The last people living on earth decide to build a space rocket and try to go through black holes to new galaxies. But they fail, like we humans tend to do. We often think we’re unbeatable.”
However, with the world undergoing a turn of events recently with the Covid-19 outbreak, the band have discovered a new found perspective for the track. Iivari says: “It feels empowering to write a song when you’re feeling anger towards the world. But when shit actually hits the fan, it just feels sad, empty and depressing. I hope the song will help us remember these times in the future, and to remember how small humanity is in relation to mother nature. That we should respect nature far more than we do.”
In further discussion about the forthcoming LP he also said: “Mono Freedom is a utopian themed album. A fictional story about Mother Nature taking over the earth and how the last humans pack their stuff, build a rocket and head over to the nearest black hole. They know that there is probably nothing out there, but it’s one of humanity’s last ideas. All this is seen as a positive, not as a dark dystopian vision, as is usually the case.”
“The record and the lyrical themes are inspired by Alan Weisman’s book The World Without Us; a classic science book that explores a bunch of scenarios of what would happen to Mother Earth if humans were to disappear today.”
The Holy – The Rocket Song
Release date – 21st August 2020 via Playground Music
I am marking October 2nd on my calendar and set alerts for it to notify me because that is the release date for Spunsugar’s new album Drive-Through-Chapel.
Until then, I am content to listen to their newest single, Run.
It seems like it was forever ago that I posted a favourable review of their then-current single Happier Happyless, it was actually on June 5th of this pandemic year that has completely messed up my sense of time.
Here we are on August 13th, barely two months since my last review of their music and just when I think they can’t get any better they release a new single that blows me away, again. Run to listen to it. Run to pre-order their new album. Run, because it is good for you.
I won’t give too much away because I am waiting for the whole album to spin on my turntable, but I can tell you that if you enjoyed Happier Happyless, you would most likely enjoy a good Run.
So, Crawford Mack went to a museum, and while wandering through an exhibit area with his female friend, he decides that his interpretation of the works on display depended on where he stood. So they stood in different places. Not happy with that, although it did provide them with new views of the works, they then attempted to engage with the works of art. That meant them dancing for some, posing for some and imitating some. Was it a success? Depends On Where You Stand.
From where I was standing, this is good music incorporated into an excellent video that would have made Modest Mussorgsky happy.
Back on July 7th, I did a review of Ben Hobbs single, Own Arms, which was in almost constant rotation on my iTunes account. Today I did a proper listen to Ben’s upcoming EP, dropping on July 31st, and I have no problem giving this a 4-star review, that’s four out of four by the way.
In the EP, Better Weather, I hear a bit of Bowie and his Diamond Dogs through to Heroes era. I also feel a bit of an R&B vibe going on in Better Weather. This EP is not mired in the past though. It has a 2020 vibe to it that is very contemporary and very listenable. Better Weather pays homage to the music of the past, but Ben Hobbs is very much connected to the present and is looking forward to better days with his new music on Better Weather.
Ben Hobbs Better Weather
The title song, Better Weather, gives me hope, hope for better weather in a literal and a figurative sense, our summer where I live has been very wet with minimal warm, cloudless days. The music and lyrics of Better Weather warmed my soul via my ears, thank you, Ben.
Ben tells us that the EP is about “insecurities, life challenges, everything. My girlfriend, the inspiration for ‘How We Care’, the journey we’ve been on together, and how we’ve helped each other. In contrast, ‘Loaded Gun’ is based the idea of leaving your world behind for a new one, partly inspired by what was is happening in UK politics; feeling like we are being lied to by our government.
A vast pool of inspiration that brings us Better Weather by Ben Hobbs. Do your summer a favour and listen to Better Weather. The Better Weather EP will be available to stream from July 31st, 2020.
Austrian Indie Rocker Tanzos arejump-starting our weekend with squalling guitar harmonics, glitches and outtakes, on their new monochromatic music video for ‘How Do You Want Me?’ It sees Tanzosexploring the emotions and pressures felt when striving for the acceptance of others which is always relevant but perhaps more so during the interesting times that we live in.
‘Can’t We Just Be Friends Again’ was a hot release back in March, from the Bristol-based band Tungz. Since then they have garnered positive reviews including one from yours truly. Now they are pushing their music forward in a new and exciting direction as heard on their latest offering ‘Go Out’, released 22nd July 2020 via Heist or Hit.
While written and recorded before lockdown, ‘Go Out’ has become an unintentionally timely release for the band. The lyrics are focusing on anxiety and bad routines, which are all too familiar amid the lockdown.
Speaking about the bands new single, vocalist and songwriter Nicky Green said, “Jamie (Maier) and I spent eight months sofa surfing and sharing rooms while we were looking for a place and saving money to move to London. Because we were moving around so much, the song ended up being written in 4 different places. I wrote it as a conversation with myself. It’s about carrying too much weight in your soul without realising and getting exhausted with a routine that’s no good for you.”
‘Can’t We Just Be Friends Again’ was a hot release back in March, from the Bristol-based band Tungz. Since then they have garnered positive reviews including one from yours truly. Now they are pushing their music forward in a new and exciting direction as heard on their latest offering ‘Go Out’, released 22nd July 2020 via Heist or Hit.
While written and recorded before lockdown, ‘Go Out’ has become an unintentionally timely release for the band. The lyrics are focusing on anxiety and bad routines, which are all too familiar amid the lockdown.
Speaking about the bands new single, vocalist and songwriter Nicky Green said, “Jamie (Maier) and I spent eight months sofa surfing and sharing rooms while we were looking for a place and saving money to move to London. Because we were moving around so much, the song ended up being written in 4 different places. I wrote it as a conversation with myself. It’s about carrying too much weight in your soul without realising and getting exhausted with a routine that’s no good for you.”
Tungz effortlessly weaves funk into grooving bass lines within a song that still sounds new and fresh to our ears. Self-produced, their latest single ‘Go Out’ will be available to stream and download from Wednesday 22nd July via Heist or Hit.
‘Can’t We Just Be Friends Again’ was a hot release back in March, from the Bristol-based band Tungz. Since then they have garnered positive reviews including one from yours truly. Now they are pushing their music forward in a new and exciting direction as heard on their latest offering ‘Go Out’, released 22nd July 2020 via Heist or Hit.
While written and recorded before lockdown, ‘Go Out’ has become an unintentionally timely release for the band. The lyrics are focusing on anxiety and bad routines, which are all too familiar amid the lockdown.
Speaking about the bands new single, vocalist and songwriter Nicky Green said, “Jamie (Maier) and I spent eight months sofa surfing and sharing rooms while we were looking for a place and saving money to move to London. Because we were moving around so much, the song ended up being written in 4 different places. I wrote it as a conversation with myself. It’s about carrying too much weight in your soul without realising and getting exhausted with a routine that’s no good for you.”
Tungz effortlessly weaves funk into grooving bass lines within a song that still sounds new and fresh to our ears. Self-produced, their latest single ‘Go Out’ will be available to stream and download from Wednesday 22nd July via Heist or Hit.
This song has been on replay mode all week. Maybe I like it. Perhaps the sea is a bit salty. Maybe, yeah, just maybe. Here I go listening to it again. Hear I go listening to ‘Depends On Where You Stand” again.
Not only a catchy bit of music but interesting lyrics that reminded me of Modest Mussorgsky’s “Pictures At An Exhibition”. Elaborating on his interpretation of the track, Crawford tells us: “Two former lovers meet together in an art gallery, and they’re out of awkward pleasantries to exchange. No amount of hastily formed opinions on the artwork displayed can drown out what they are neglecting to discuss. They play-out a Hollywood-Esq sequence of trying not to be caught sneaking a glance, whilst attempting to give each other enough space by dancing around each other at a pace that is as excruciating as it is conspicuous.” Brilliant, simply brilliant.
Hailing from Glasgow, Crawford Mack draws on the influence of various works of literature that he devours with an insatiable appetite for words. Crawford is not just a composer and lyricist; he is also a video and art director, and he bringings all of these talents together for the expression of his musical vision.
Initially, Crawford was a jazz musician, breaking out of that genre box he has created a musical sound that, in his words, found ‘the sweet spot between Led Zeppelin and Joni Mitchell’. Crawford has collaborated with a wide variety of musicians from jazz, rock, electronic, and classical music projects. Those experiences came together and resulted in a journey to Antwerp to record his upcoming debut album, ‘Depends On Where You Stand’.
I would encourage you to give the teaser title track a spin while we wait in anticipation of the album release.
Weathered Music 