Alternative rocker and songwriter Chris Birdsall has released his latest single ‘Deaf, Dumb and Blind’. Coming from a string of bands in his youth, Chris Birdsall struck out on his own and released his debut solo album ’13 Songs’ in 2015. With his sound influenced by Eric Clapton and John Martyn, he continues to explore the bounds of his musical talent, pushing it further each time. ‘Deaf, Dumb and Blind’ is the first single to come from his upcoming album.
‘Deaf, Dumb and Blind’ is a slick rock track that thrives on a bluesy refrain and Chris Birdsall’s raw musicianship. With a stomping beat, swagger drenched guitar and powerful vocals the track is brimming with oodles of brawn.Birdsall builds the track from a groove infested sultry number into a ballsy power anthem. With a twanging western-esque guitar creating scorching fragments of delight between the muggy humid beat the song’s simplistic approach is quite versatile and striking. The mighty crescendo and sheer swagger dripping from this track is impressive. ‘Deaf, Dumb and Blind’ is catchy, fine blues rock tune sure to be stuck in your head for days.
I had a chat with Dublin multi instrumentalist Sam Ludlow best known as the drummer in grungy disco band Munky a few weeks ago. We talked about his debut single ‘Antwerp’, the inspiration behind the track and what his plans are for upcoming releases all while Sam showed some interesting culinary skills.
Presse bilder til det nye Dagny albumet / januar 2020
Dagny is set to release the first installment of her long-awaited debut album ‘Strangers / Lovers’. Released via Universal / Ingrooves the album will be split into two parts, with the first 6 tracks ‘Side A’ available for streaming on May 22nd and the full album (Side B) to arrive in September later this year. Dagny [Norvoll Sandvik] has officially solidified herself in recent years as one of Norway’s most exciting artists, live performers and songwriters: yielding over 450 million streams, as well as selling out international headline tours along with critical acclaim from Nylon and Billboard to The Guardian and Harper’s BAZAAR. Debut EP ‘Ultraviolet’ received unanimous praise from critics with features such as Billboard’s 10 Pop Stars To Watch In 2017, and VEVO’s Ones To Watch 2017.
Coated in vivid and shimmering pop side A of ‘Strangers / Lovers’ presents Dagny’s sound through lush instrumentation and wonderfully infectious songwriting. Her ability to create sunny pop bangers is wondrous This is shown in tracks ‘Come Over’, ‘Somebody’ and ‘Coulda Shoulda Woulda’ whichpresent buoyant instrumentation over sparkling synths, sticky slapping beats and light guitar strides. With Dagny’s light footed sweet vocals melting atop the smooth melodies she puts a sugary glaze on already shiny pop tunes.There are some sublime funky moments, warm guitar flourishes and twinkling keys adorning the album in rich and vibrant textures.
Through the glossy pop soundscapes and radiant dance hued bops, Dagny wisps delicate slow burners into the mix. The affectionate and dreamy ‘Paris’, honest ‘Let Me Cry’ and the catchy blooping beat of ‘Tension’ highlights Dagny’s ability to swirl delicate emotion and earnest song writing into her tracks. This first half of the album is brimming with exhilarating anticipation and excitement as Dagny playfully expresses themes of meeting someone for the first time and enjoying the exciting beginnings of a relationship.
Side A of ‘Strangers / Lovers’ is a full flavoured richly layered collection of tracks. Dagny has an impressive ability to create sophisticated fun pop which has depth and emotion. Side A of ‘Strangers / Lovers’ is an enjoyable listen.
Side A of ‘Strangers / Lovers’ is set for release on 22nd May for more you can follow Dagny on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/dagnymusic/
The White Lakes are set to release their new single ‘Summer (She Won’t Wait)’ on May 18th. The White Lakes are a four-piece Indie Rock Band, based near London. The band members, Matt Ellacott (Rhythm Guitar and Vocals), Finlay Carson (Lead Guitar and Backing Vocals), Logan McQuirk (Bass) and Kyle Oliveira (Drums) are all under the age of 21, they originally formed in Oxford and have been together just over two years. Over the last 2 years the band have grown from small clubs to headline shows and festivals stages. Performances include: The Wedgewood Rooms (Portsmouth), Truckfest, Carfest, Summer Live, SOMA Festival, The Boiler Room (Guildford), Live Wyre Festival and The Camden Assembly. The White Lakes were recently invited to support Razorlight at a sold out O2 Indigo, in London.
‘Summer (She Won’t Wait)’ is fun, fresh and full of exuberance as The White Lakes take their explosive indie sound and douse it in sun-kissed summer radiance. The band have created a dynamic number with a driving bass line weaving elastic rumbles into its punchy foundation. With massive arena worthy sing along lyrics and an infectious melody it’s a sparkling indie fire cracker.The jubilant jangling guitars chime and glisten throughout the track with a blazing intensity for the chorus while gliding through the verses with sweet glossy refrains. The White Lakes sprint through the song at a rapid pace sprinkling their buoyant peppy backdrop with raw indie fragments of delight before injecting vibrant pop elements into the track to keep the sugar rush alive. With warm vocals and crisp production ‘Summer (She Won’t Wait)’ is an infectious, youthful shot of adrenaline sure to have you dancing around the room in no time.
Well known as the drummer from Munky, Dublin’s multi instrumentalist Sam Ludlow has released his debut solo single ‘Antwerp’. Sam’s debut is quite the auspicious ditty as he announces his solo material with a delicate number presented through a rosy romantic haze.
With soft guitar tenderly weaving through a steady shuffle beat this mellow track is a creamy angel delight to the ears. It’s picturesque and vivid as the velvety vocal croons caress the candy-floss pop melody with soulful tones and classic charm. The “la la la la” lyrics wisp the track into a cinematic swoon while light piano flutters in the background. The balmy, nimble guitar embellishments and lush backing vocals set a beautiful sun-kissed haze of daydream bliss. ‘Antwerp’ is well layered and beautifully crafted with a laid back lounging vibe that is so soothing, sweet and irresistible. A sublime debut from Sam Ludlow.
About the track Sam says “This is the bridge between a creative prison and an unknown future. This track was written at a really happy time in my life, but the song was recorded at a sad point in my life, so it blends this carefree instrumentation with melancholic melodies.”
Derry indie pop singer songwriter Stayne (pronounced like stain) has released his new single ‘Who’s Dead, How’s The Weather?’ ahead of his EP which is due for release later this year.This beautiful and tender track is an impeccable example of Stayne’s clean, honest and pure songwriting. With ethereal soundscapes wisping around elegant twinkles on piano it’s a heartwarming emotive gem. Stayne’s warm vocals have a rich depth and velvety tone as he glides over the melancholic smooth melody with ease. The track surges with uplifting tones as the buoyant beat and building backdrop lift the song to new heights for the crescendo. It’s a well crafted, beautiful number that flurries lightly around the earnest lyrics which speak of how we are only here for a short while and during our time on earth you should ‘be someone you’re proud of’. With a bubbling melodically rich chorus teamed with wonderful glistens on guitar ‘Who’s Dead, How’s The Weather? is a sublime track brimming with emotion, passion and refined musicianship.
Atticus are set to release their new single ‘Tony’ on May 22nd. Atticus are a four piece alt rock band from Dublin, comprised of Dan Wigglesworth, Steph Comiskey, Daragh O’Connor, and Paul Gleeson. They strive to take the best aspects of pop, rock, metal and rap to create an energetic and intriguing sound that is brought to life with riveting live shows. They have released 2 EPs to date: “Coherence” and “Deadlines”, both of which were self produced and recorded by the band themselves.
With a swarm of raw alternative rock Atticus present their most invigorating release to date with ‘Tony’. This track was destined to be blasted from the speakers. With dark murky soundscapes swirling through a crashing hyperactive wall of sound, Atticus have created one heavy mosh smothered anthem. The band pummel and pulverise with ground shaking drums and a dynamic dirty bass line that could summon the dead while harsh guitar lacerations cut shreds into the beefy backdrop. The band create wonderful tension through the acute luring verses while the explosive chorus erupts with a harsh shrill and enraged fury. Showcasing their refined majestic side the band embellish the song with rich rhythms and slick precise guitar maneuvers that boasts the quartet’s musical bravado in all its glory. Blending swagger saturated rock with moody grunge hues, dynamic rasped vocal howls and alternative rock anarchy, Atticus have created another thrilling banger.
Cork based noise pop outfit Deadbog have released their new self titled EP. The band formed in summer 2018 by friends Danny O’Shea (guitars and vocals) and Luke Daly (drums). After a number of gigs as a two piece, Rory Burke (guitar) and JJ Lee (bass) completed the line up.
Drenched in reverb with shoegaze elements swirling into a deep psychedelic pool of distortion, Deadbog’s EP is a richly blended four track concoction with equal measures of sweet and sour. The band melt soft dreamy melodies on top of acid soaked guitar and rich intricate rhythmic progressions to create intense moments of raw psych-tinged alternative rock through ‘Morning Swimmer’ and ‘Vending Machine’.With heavy instrumental crashes the tracks build becoming ominous and shrilling as light flickers on guitar progress to coarse pines soaring over thick heavy drum pounds and perilous rapid soundscapes. It’s a hard hitting collection of tracks however, amidst this onslaught of controlled chaos the band show glimpses of sweet delicacy and innocence.
There are very little vocals on the EP. When the vocals do appear it is through a wave of harmonies and expressions. In ’Behold the Coagula’ it’s the vocals and wistful melody that cool the tracks scorching intensity. Deadbog lay this melancholic melody and cooing vocals over a bubbling harsh backdrop of pounding drums and meandering guitars creating a wonderful contrast.‘Gurus’ begins with the most beautiful sweet guitar lament backed by a throbbing beat. The first half of this track ripples with clear and pristine clarity creating a time stopping moment within the EP before the band enhance the song building to its epic and hair raising crescendo.
Deadbog have created an EP that is rich in its intricacies with sweet melancholic and dreamy moments flickering between the band’s blast of controlled chaos. The intense and blistering instrumentation is created with such precision, as the band carefully allows the softer tender moments to flourish, almost untouched, in this frenzied atmosphere.It’s an impressive balancing act.
Sion Hill has released his highly anticipated new single ‘Speak Up’.After leaving Ireland for Berlin, after leaving Berlin for Hamburg, and after leaving Hamburg for the murmuring vastness that is London, Nathan Johnston alias Sion Hill has carefully re-calibrated his musical palette. While his lauded 2017 debut “Elephant” was an eclectic soul-pop wonderland comfortably sitting between a room full of chairs somewhere in Berlin, his relationship with London is manifested in the globetrotters’ latest single, ‘Speak Up’.
Encased in cosy folk tones and wholesome songwriting ‘Speak Up’ is a warm uplifting slice of infectious pop. With soothing acoustic guitar glimmering through the verses along with clean piano chords, the song has a charming heart warming quality. Johnston shows an honest and vulnerable side to him as he depicts times he felt down and felt left out. The lyrics talk about mustering the courage to tell your surroundings how you really feel and how it’s fine not to feel okay. His soul hued velvety vocals slip into an R&B tone at times before allowing a yelp to take him into country/ traditional folk territory. This bubbling anthem is brimming with hope, good vibes and oodles of charm and Johnston presents this perfectly through his passionate delivery and relatable songwriting. A perky fiddle melody brings a healthy dose of optimism into the song while blood pumping beats and sun kissed soundscapes grace the backdrop in rich prisms of scintillation; ‘Speak Up’ is a vivacious and feel good anthem. It’s ridiculously catchy too.
After receiving critical acclaim for the singles ‘Versailles,’ and ‘25’ this year, indie quintet, Lady Landscape have released ‘Apartment Song’, their final single before the release of their much anticipated third EP, ‘3’. Founded by Alex Harrison and Ryan McDonnell in late 2018, Meath-based five-piece Lady Landscape embrace a mellow tone that combines rich synth textures, dreamy guitar rhythms and nonchalant vocals.In late-2019 the band decided to take a break from gigging to finish their highly anticipated third EP, ‘3’, which is due to be released next month.
‘Apartment Song’ continues Lady Ladscape’s lo -fi dreamy brand of indie as they drift a smooth melody over a chiming bouncy backdrop. With shaking percussion injected between soft glistening guitars and a hazy shoegaze-hued soundscape the track is a sun kissed, easy on the ears gem. One instantly recognisable feature of Lady Landscape’s sound is the nonchalant deep vocals that depict the striking and honest lyrics. This band take themes of self disappointment and normal life occurrences and expresses them through wonderfully bitter/sweet musicianship. The guitar in this track is quite beautiful and elegant as it weaves a delicate twinkling melody through the wispy synths and floating soundscapes. ‘Apartment Song’ is a spacy laid back track that has a soft yet glum candy-floss atmosphere created through intricate and refined musicianship.
Stream ‘Apartment Song’ below
Author : Danu
Indie: (n) an obscure form of rock which you only learn about from someone slightly more hip than yourself.
