Meditation in loss: “Holy Smoke” by Nicki Wells
It seems fitting that “Holy Smoke” is highly minimal. It’s a track that invites you to quietly join it in the open space, to have the room to feel what you need to as the track slowly calms you. Nicki Wells seems to have been influenced by a wealth of different musical styles but here […]
Why Kate Bush’s “Running Up That Hill” endures
You know that feeling when you’ve discovered a song and it feels personal to you? It feels like something in that song is speaking to you, and no one else. Then you find out that millions of people are listening to that song and it feels jaded, it feels like it’s no longer special because […]
Death Cab For Cutie Ponder Movie Stars, Eternity, and Pop Perfection on “Here To Forever”
For more than twenty years Ben Gibbard has been honing the sound of Death Cab For Cutie, trying to distill what they do to a set of musical fragments that, when played together, make up a melodic whole. On “Here To Forever” he may just have mastered that technique. To my mind, modern Death Cab […]
Grab a partner and dance to Daffodil Floors by Mandi Mapes
I love a waltz, don’t you? I’ve got a feeling Mandi Mapes might be partial to one as well, judging by the joyous way she delivers Daffodil Floors. I found myself immediately swaying my head from side to side as her latest song started to play with a sweet little piano line. It’s pretty, pretty […]
Gentle simplicity works on Willow by Ella Rae Cole
An attractive strummed acoustic guitar pattern introduces “Willow” by Ella Rae Cole and her even more attractive singing soon follows. There is the addition of a cello part that comes in and out of the song at different intervals. This serves the delicacy of the delivery of this gentle song but due to its clever […]
“TV Dinners” is Skittering, Restless Alt-pop from ALASKALASKA
A wash of synth strings and feedback noises introduce you to “TV Dinners” by ALASKALASKA and are almost immediately cut off by a piano over the chattering beat as the proper introduction to a track that’s perhaps more contemplative that some of their other songs. Deep bass repeats the piano notes and Lucinda Duarte-Holman starts […]
Twisting mood and soaring vocals on Nótt’s ’Frost’
“In Norse mythology, Nótt is night personified.” Intriguing (thanks Wiki). What’s also intriguing is an artist who doesn’t give out a whole lot of information about themselves, instead letting the music do the talking. Nótt (real name Kate) is one of these. On her Spotify biography, she tells us she is “fiercely rooted in rock […]
“Soak” by Blue Lupin is a Beautiful Lo-fi Love Letter
There seems to be a lot of songs about creative people. Songs about singers, artists and actors are a popular subject. Hey, I’ve done it more than once. Bands and singers love to honour their heroes in song. But the actual act of creativity seems a much rarer subject. Until I heard “Soak” by Blue […]
Steve Wynn’s “Simpler Than the Rain” is Sweet Country with an Unpredictable Edge
“Simpler Than the Rain” starts in an easy way with acoustic guitar, but after the band gently kicks in, the song’s warm and slightly loose playing is given an unusual tension as Steve Wynn starts singing. His edgy drawl’s DNA might be more likely to be heard in indie rock (and his work with The […]
