Usually, when an artist or a band wants a complete change of direction or another line of musical exploration, they usually change the name or use a moniker for such a project. Rarely do they keep the same name and change the music, gradually, completely, whatever. At least if they take such a route, it turns out to be a downward spiral. particularly as success with a broader audience is in question.
Of course, some exceptions prove the rule, Fleetwood Mac definitely being one. Starting as mainly a blues band under the late Peter Green, they turned into a sophisticated pop machine that has kept being a big hit with audiences fifty or so decades on.
Not that they were unsuccessful or that they didn’t do other music other than blues, but that somehow went into the background as an afterthought, even with some brilliant songs like ‘Oh Well’ or sometimes neglected ‘Green Manalishi.’
Will any of the below artists have a similar development track?
Chloe Gallardo - God Is Dead
Under a title that might raise some eyebrows is a gentle, well-arranged ballad that is really a great introduction to Gallardo’s latest album with another tricky title - ‘Defamator.’
Eluvium - The Violet Light
Matthew Robert Cooper, aka Eluvium, is one of those artists that crosses genres both with ease and imagination, now slowly uncovering what we can expect from his upcoming album release with yet another intriguing duo set of tracks, this being one of them.
Whitehall - Pull
This South Carolina band sticks to the alt-pop rock of the nineties, and, luckily they stay on the good side of that sound here, maybe even announcing the long overdue nineties revival.
Rebenn - Maybe I’m Psycho
Not a band, but a singer-songwriter that favors more current pop forms as evident on this pre-midnight track, with the theme actually taken from an argument between her parents.
The Noise Who Runs - Beautiful Perhaps
A change of name, but not so much the music style. The Noise Who runs is a duo that includes Ian Pickering of Sneaker Pimps, but this harking back to the heyday of the eighties gothic-tinged stuff works.
Heartworms - Consistent Dedication
Heartworms favor that electro/post-punk combination with Siouxie & The Banshees’ touch. Yet another eighties-sounding track that does the trick. From their latest EP ‘A Comforting Notion.’
Jody And The Jerms - Started Something
Some might consider it more traditional, but jody and The Jerms actually bring along another take on the pop version of Fleetwood Mac, with a current spin on affairs.
Cosmic Crooner - Spoiler Alert
Now, this one does go back some seventy years or so to the times when ‘ladies’ choice’ was the popular selection in the dance halls. And yes, this crooner definitely does the style justice.
Pozi - Pest Control
Short (well, not so much) but sharp and angular is how Pozi like it, with some interesting vocal harmonies and some violin to boot. Could be a mess, but actually does the trick.
Ligeti Quartet - Blackfriars
Ana Meredith’s Blackfriars’ classical composition takes almost pop tones in the hands (definitely hands) of the Ligeti Quartet, and makes it quite suitable for part of any upcoming film soundtrack.
Bunny Michael - Angels Everywhere
Michael mentions angels here but combines them with some darker sounds. An intriguing combination and with Michaels talking about societal control, she takes us everywhere.
Teke Teke - Gotoku Lemon
Teke Teke have already made a name for themselves with their left-field combination of something that can be called Japanese surf take on all things folk, and Gotoku Lemon shows that they are further upgrading their art.
Cosmo Sheldrake - Bathed In Sound
With that voice and those harmonies, Sheldrake, cosmo or not, is definitely bathed in sound and a very good one at that. His upcoming EP ‘Wet Wild World’ is something to expect.
Joni Void - Parallax Error
Whether you can call Joni Void’s tape collages as songs should not be a subject of debate, since so far all of them have worked as true compositions. In that respect, no errors with this ‘Parallax Error.’
Damoyee - Phobia
It is not an unknown for singer-songwriters to explore their fears, yet often they miss their mark with their approach. Damoyee does that here, but she doesn’t have a problem transforming her fears into an excellent ballad.
Friday - Dear God
Not the XTC song of the same name, with Nicole Daddona, aka Friday taking on a more shoegaze/dream approach here, trying to reclaim her emotions, which she definitely does.
Bike - Filha De Vento
Brazil’s Bike reminds us here what a great musical movement Tropicalia was, with some additional early Pink Floyd touches to boot here. A band to look out for.
Samana - Seven Years
Another calm, quite touching ballad from a duo that is not so long on the scene. Still, quite enough promise here to definitely deserve more attention.