Climbing Up, And Then What?
Is achieving success achieving the dream?
Wind was blowing, time stood still
Standing stretching every nerve
I had to listen, had no choice
So sings Peter Gabriel in ‘Solsbury Hill’ from his first solo album.
Anticipating and achieving success, and climbing up to the top could be part of the dream of any artist/musician, or it could be the dream itself. Yet, the key question here might be - what happens if you actually do achieve it is it fulfillment or does it become a burden?
Of course, both could happen and sometimes, the process of achieving the goal, climbing up can be as satisfying or as disappointing as reaching the goal itself. And it becomes a very personal thing, with the audience in for a ride, whatever the outcome.
Niall Summerton - Wish You Could Speak
If you’re guessing who Summerton wishes to speak, it is a dog, something many dog owners could relate to, and the Leeds newcomer packs his word in some very pleasant folk rock.
Sivu - Wild Horse Running
Sivu, aka British songwriter James Page does a very good acoustic/electro combination here with some mellow vocals over everything to a very good effect and some intricate arrangement details.
Kian Blume - Daphne
Some subtle baroque pop stuff here, with the baroque i.e. classical musical elements to the forefront here, reminding me of some of the best of that genre way back in the seventies.
The Nude Party - Rides On
The Nude Party seem to be trying to perfect their take on the pop/rock genre, not being ashamed of that pop element. And they don’t have to be, they are doing quite a good job of it.
The Bayonets - Argentina
No ‘don’t cry for me’ part here, as Brian Ray, the man who played with the likes of Paul McCartney and Etta James, like a good old-fashioned take on a thing called just rock.
Blood Moon Wedding - Wanted
If this duo’s name sounds a bit moody, it definitely describes the moodiness of this song too, but Steve Lake and Mia Dean obviously know how to navigate through it.
Allen Epley - Evangeline
Going ‘simple’ can actually be very complicated, and Epley (Shiner, The Life and Times) adds exactly the right touches to this somewhat stark ballad to the right effect.
Spiral XP - Free Thinking
If this one sounds like some prime grunge, then it is an easy guess that these guys, who add some nice shoegaze touches to this one definitely come from Seattle. Good job no matter what.
Cinder Well - Two Heads, Grey Mare
Some not-so-common guitar tunings and haunting vocals from Amelia Baker, aka Cinder Well, make this one prime example of what can be easily be called hazy folk. Works great in any case.
Jack River - Endless Summer
Jack River is Australian songstress Holly Rankin who combines her high-range vocals with those of Genesis Owusu and an excellent arrangement for some thrilling psych-pop to some great effect.
Bonner Rae - My Feet Don’t Touch The Ground
Rae didn’t write this song from her new album, but she definitely does it justice, showcasing what a good pop country should sound like when it is done properly.
Amy Stroup - As Lon As You Are With Me
Using echo effects can ruin a song, but when done right, they can give it that extra effect that really makes it work. And Stroup and her producer or producers did the right job here, making it sound quite grand, thank you.
Jared Saltiel - A Stranger, Your Name
The key to a good singer-songwriter's ballad is not making it sappy or turning it into some sort of navel-gazing, and Saltiels escapes any and all of such possible traps here.
GoGo Penguin - Parasite
GoGo Penguin doesn’t throw away their jazz stuff here, they shift both the approach and perspective, making them sound renewed without abandoning the music place where they come from.
Tanlines - Burns Effect
Taking cues from Chris Isaak, himself taking cues from the fifties and early sixties ballads is nothing to be ashamed of, but you have to do it really well, and Tanlines certainly do that here.
Setting Sun - Cool
Well, the setting sun can be cool in both a positive and negative manner, and these guys from Hudson Valley, NY, do that in a positive manner in quite an effortless manner.
Tapioca - Laguas De Ruanda
This Afro/Brazilian combination via Brussels and Kigali turns into a very cool take on modern R&B, that deserves to be on as many late-night playlists as it can reach.
Blick Bassy - Hola Me
Bassy celebrates World Water Day with some quite cool, deep bass lines, subtle brass, and excellent falsetto vocals. His upcoming debut album Madiba seems something to look for.
The Murlocs - Initiative
Something of a King Gizzard offshoot that prefers a more seventies roots approach, without abandoning that psych element, particularly with the lyrics, and it works quite well.