On Champion Arise, Rock Dawuni is able to infuse a modern set of sensibilities to the tried and true reggae sound. A robust guitar and bouncy bass line mesh with a bit of electronic trappings here, as Rocky’s vocals shine brightly over the track. Hints of gospel can be picked up here; the increasing prominence of these backing vocals add a distinctly different style to Champion Arise’s second half. Able…
On Shook, Tkay Maidza calls back to the halcyon rap style of Missy Elliott and Trina for inspiration. High-energy rap flow combines with a booming synth and bass line. The chorus presented by TM on Shook will bury itself deeply into listeners’ mind. Adding a higher-pitched response to Tkay Maidza’s call adds further depth to the composition. There’s a bit of a change-up presented to fans as they hit the…
On Let The Robots Drive, Heartour are able to refresh 1980s synthpop with a more contemplative, introspective sort of instrumentation. A slower tempo works for Heartour here, as the backing instrumentation rises into something beautiful. The atmospheric sound of their latest effort ties together the work of Erasure and the Pet Shop Boys, creating something wholly unique for the current era. The effort has considerable replay value as Heartour has…
Art Tawanghar has crafted a modern-day masterpiece with his Adagio Gm Tomaso Albinoni In 432Hz. The strings (contributed by the featured Negar Nick on the Azari Kamanche) that begin the effort call back to the composers of the 18th and 19th century. The deliberate pacing of the composition ensures that listeners will remain attention. The panoply of interactions that occur at any only second of this composition create a heady,…
JUNO’s new single Sleepwalker has inspiration drawn from a wide swath of performers from INXS to Nine Inch Nails and The Killers. The authoritative bass line that plays at the bottom of Sleepwalker is matched nicely by the synths. Overall, what Juno does with their latest song is refresh the new wave style with their own unique flair. The band is able to take the baton from acts like Walk…
Run has Reverse Mechanic slow things down a bit. With a more intricate, intimate vocal flow in the main body of the track, Run immediately draws listeners in. The switch over from a more soft, touching approach to something quicker and invigorating impresses the track deep into fans’ minds. The ability of Reverse Mechanic to move back and forth between rap flow and silky-smooth pop performer styles is unparalleled. This…
Beatrice Russo is a timeless track that could easily be slotted into the easy listening style of 1970s radio. Touching paired vocals and soft instrumental arrangements unite to make for a strong foot forward. What is perhaps most impressive about Beatrice Russo has to be the multi-layered approach that is presented here. Where the song would seem to be a bit on the complex side on a surface listen, a…
Stranded is a high-octane track that has vocals front and center even as a robust set of synths draw listeners in. A booming bass punctuates Stranded. LBM is easily able to slot into pop and R&B rotation. The stellar production encountered here is able to push both the instrumentation and LBM’s vox into a higher plateau singularly. The effort works masterfully as a cohesive unit. Cutting out well before the…
Give Me Love has Linda “Peaches” Tavani showcase her considerable vocal qualities. The instrumentation present on the single is very cognizant of these vocals, rising and swelling in all the right places. There’s a timeless sound that is crafted through each lyric on Give Me Love, but the on-point instrumentation and sheer dedication to the overall composition makes Give Me Love resound loudly for current generations of listeners. Tavani has…
On Nirvana, Tainted Black is able to hit all the touchstones of modern rock. Drawing considerably on Black Album-era Metallica and Seether with vox building upon Social Distortion and Squeeze, Tainted Black settle in quite nicely with their latest single. The chugging guitar / drum dynamic kicks Nirvana into a higher gear. Gradually taking on a quicker momentum, Tainted Black is able to tattoo the melodies of Nirvana deep into…
On No Such Thing As A Real One, Que 9 is able to create a soulful rap flow pop with absolutely intense wordplay. Booming instrumentation and keys createe a solid backdrop upon which these bars can reside. The charisma and passion that Qu 9’s vox exude here catapult his single into the realm of pop radio airplay. Separating himself from other similar performers, Que 9 is able to imbue his…
After a considerable amount of coverage throughout the United Kingdom and the west coast, Waiting for Smith has created a new track in “Long Life”. Long Life has a compelling sound that draws upon mid-oughts alternative. The guitar work goes even further back in time to pull influence from 1960s country. Charismatic vocals flow effortlessly on the top of the track while taut instrumentation makes for a cohesive and coherent…
Jenn Nucum’s Revival album begins with Better Optimist, a single that sets the stage for a theme of hope and lessons learned. Nucum’s approach takes nods from mid-1990s alternative and the singer-songwriter style, linking together a guitar of guitars with a close-knit drum line. Cutting out well before the 2:30 mark, Better Optimist keeps the momentum robust as fans move into All The Same. Nucum’s All The Same is a…
Preface is more than just an introduction to Luna Scar’s new album, The Relation Between Unrelated Concepts. It is a fully-formed track that will bury its melodies deep into listeners’ minds; the charisma that Luna Scar immediately brings to the release will garnet fans even at the onset of this disc. Bite is a powerful effort that could easily slot onto pop or EDM rotation. The strong, assertive vocals that…
Go Do That With Sharon has a powerful main guitar riff and assertive vocals. Haerle establishes a complex arrangement that brings in hints of surf and nods to mid-1990s Beck and R.E.M.. David’s vocals ring out over the composition, but the ancillary inclusions here – a robust bass line, for one – makes the effort fulfilling as all get out. Romy and Michele slows things down; David ensures that listeners…
The Death of Me blends together Tom’s supersonic vocals with a stripped-down rock in the vein of AC/DC and Kyuss. The ferocity of this single is further punctuated with sizzling guitar work and on-point drums. The melodies encountered during this cut will bury themselves deeply into the psyche of anyone listening in. Rise is a power ballad that count easily hang with the highlights of the genre. Tom’s vocals are…
On I Need More, Christina Morgan-Diaz is able to create a timeless gospel effort. With a slow, deliberate tempo and considerable vocal chops, Morgan-Diaz is able to tell a story of praise as well as anyone. The backing instrumentation heard on I Need More is robust as all get out as well; the piano and bass unite to make a stellar tapestry upon which Christina’s voice can truly shine. Adding…
On Stay, Snuttock are able to craft a fun bit of alternative rock that builds upon The Buggles and Jellyfish. The pair vocals are matched nicely with an electronic/guitar approach. The melodies that the act crafts during their latest single will stick around with listeners long after the song ceases to play. The bridge at the 1:55 mark allows Snuttock the ability to change things up for the song’s second…
The London underground has always produced some of the most provocative artists known around the world, and this spring, it’s offering us another soul-searcher with a talent for making impeccably eclectic music in Bloom’s Taxonomy. Bloom’s Taxonomy is a solo project dedicated to exploring the depths of the modern ambient beat, and in his new record Bitter Lake, he takes a uniquely British approach to his mission. There are more than…
Few genres in the pop music lexicon have been as consistently popular as the blues have since its inception. No matter what seems to be going on in the world around us, there’s always a good blues song out there to suit the mood at the moment, and in Izzie’s Caravan’s Leo’s Guitar, there are four such songs ready and waiting for fans to appreciate. Leo’s Guitar is a barebones blues-rock record that…