Dublins alternative rock foursome, Brass Phantoms have released their new single ‘Waiting Up’. The band have played extensively all over the country and have Sunsets Festival and Guinness Amplify performances under their belt, as well as headlining shows at Dublin’s Workman’s and Whelan’s. Their track ‘City Of Wolves’ was released last year and was play listed on our national broadcaster RTE 2fm leading to a BBC Introducing slot for BBC Radio Ulster, and live sessions across stations like NOVA and 4fm. They finished last year at the Other Voices festival and have been booked for various showcases and Ones To Watch festivals this year as well as this summers Indiependence with Manic Street Preachers and SIGMA (full line up to be announced). ‘Waiting Up’ is a rush of sonic laden aerial indie. Soaring to skyscraper heights this track is sublime almost heavenly. The rapid tribal tinged beat teamed with rooted rolling bass gives the track grounding and a solid foundation to bounce off before it escapes and ascends into the elevated chorus. The sharp sting on guitar adds a breezy refreshing sensation as the track builds into a blustery thrilling crescendo. Smooth vocals coo to start with a velvety texture building and becoming more animated as the track progresses, while the lush uplifting backing vocals soar above with sweet elevated buoyancy. The superb production and breathtaking musicianship makes ‘Waiting Up’ a stunning display of Brass Phantoms compact remarkable soundscape
Ocean Calling aka Sophie Wilkie was formed at the end of 2013, in a little town called Bellingham in Washington State. Originally from Moseley in the UK, Sophie started making/programming music herself whilst living in the very top corner of the USA. As a musician Sophie is a competent pianist and vocalist, writing lyrics that in isolation could undoubtedly stand on their own as poetry, and as a photographer her work is represented in the USA across various platforms. Almost all of her songs are motivated by and about movement, and discuss, amongst other things, the various travels she has undertaken during the course of the past three years. Wilkie is releasing her album ‘Quiet Magic’ this week. It is bold and adventurous for her first work, soaring effortlessly within various electronic soundscapes, all while maintaining a light dreamy swirl of blissful euphoria blended with hints of dark undertones.
‘Mist and Pine’ introduces Ocean Calling’s 10 track experience. With sweet delicate vocals and aerial atmospheres it is picturesque and beautiful. With elegant piano and rapid spongy beat we instantly get an earthy image of beautiful spring and twinkling mist glistening and fragile.The backing vocals lull and blend calming the mind sweeping the listener up in Wilkies gentle delightful world.Its refreshing tones and echo vocals display fantastic imagery you can almost feel the breeze along with the poetic lyrics its like you are being whispered a secret in the form of honeyed melodies and swirling gentle instrumentation. The album continues this journey with track after track leading you deeper and deeper into a hypnosis of enchanting dreamy melodies daintily flowing and interweaving playfully together. Tracks such as ‘Silhouettes’ adapts a more electronic persona with darker tones surfacing to the top of the mixture every once and a while like subtle glimpses of shadowy tones in a swirling blend of colours. ‘Desert Sky Scarlet’ rushes the mind with a soft rapid sticky rolling beat that gives a feeling of freedom or searching for freedom. A refreshing breezy vibe teamed with bright hazy tones, its a vitalising track that leaves you feeling refreshed. ‘Quiet Magic’ gives us a slow song Ocean Calling style. It has a tender melody that is portrayed with a sensitivity that can draw a tear from your eye. Wilkie’s vocals are heavenly and gentle yet soothing and reassuring. ‘Spun Gold’ surprises with an edgy shadow soaked electronic sound. Deepened eerie vocals and a gooey beat hints trouble bubbling. The track releases tension with an expression of brighter tones like an explosion of a sparkle bomb. ‘Girl and the Road’ takes us to the end of our enchanting journey into Ocean Calling’s world of fascination and wonder. Displaying that daydream airy vibe and her beautifully poetic lyric, this track concludes the album with the sprinkling of enchanting magic and the enthralling yearning will to dream and experience the wonders of life.
Watch the video for ‘Black Sand’ below
Daisy Victoria has announced her third EP ‘Animal Lover’ which was recorded with producer Dan Austin (Pixies) and is set for release 19th August this year. Daisy Victoria is a socially anxious songwriter who lives in a Suffolk wood with her six chickens and OCD. Since she released her first EP ‘Heart Full of Beef’ in 2014, Victoria’s music has been compared with artists such as P.J. Harvey, Kate Bush, Nick Cave and Patti Smith, winning her support from the likes of i-D, NME, CLASH, Line Of Best Fit, The 405 and Radio 1’s Huw Stephens. Lauren Laverne has called her a “rising star” and BBC 6 Music hailed her follow up 2015 EP ‘Nobody Dies’ as “majestic”. She has played shows at The Great Escape, Latitude, Radio 1 Academy and Dot To Dot.
The EP was co-written with her brother Sam, and it articulates their shared sense of wonder at the world’s strangeness. Victoria describes herself as a “pessimistic dreamer”, perhaps going some way toward explaining some of the bizarre lyrical juxtapositions, and jarring world-views of her characters. ‘Animal Lover’ is the title track on the EP and it is song about a man whose house doubles as a menagerie. The track brings the listener on a surreal journey through the mythical landscape of Daisy Victoria’s imagination. This journey is portrayed to us with a catchy bright melody, dynamic guitars and soft beats which contrast with Victoria’s full bodied enchanting vocal which give a haunting eerie atmosphere. Victoria’s vocals are compelling as she showcases her fantastic vocal range that resembles something like Kate Bush. Her vocals are clear, sharp and flawless and shine throughout the track. This track is energetic and has a dance effect with catchy chorus and emotional vocals that are captivating and make you want to put it on repeat.
You can catch Daisy Victoria live at
9th August – Birthdays – London,UK
23rd September – John Peel Centre, BBC Introducing Showcase – Stowmarket, UK
Stream “Animal Lover” below
Fossils are an alternative band from Liverpool. The band consists of members Jonathan Gibson (Lead vocals, guitar), Jay Denham (bass, backing vocals), Ryan Culshaw (Guitar) and Jack Robertson (Drums). Their debut single ‘Lo-Fi’ has been played on BBC Introducing Liverpool and they have supported Martha Ffion who’s on Jake Bugg’s label. ‘Lo-Fi’ is a refreshing aerial track with echo vocals and soft beats. The use of reverb gives this track a breezy flying vibe and teamed with the delicate bubbling drums you get the feeling you are running to your freedom as you feel the refreshing wind on your face cleansing you of whatever you are running from. The guitar is bright and sharp and adds an effective contrast to the smooth drums adding an edge to the track and giving that breezy vibe.
This track shows Fossils great musicianship and potential . Look forward to hearing more from them.
You can catch Fossils at soundstation Liverpool in St Michaels station on the 24th July.
Stream ‘Lo-Fi’ below
Forbear is a Future rock, Cinematic dirt band from Los Angeles. Composed of some of LA’s most prolific musicians, Scott Goldbaum (formerly of Wise Cub) leads the band with beautiful vocals and melodic guitar, while classically trained Molly Rogers’ viola adds a layer that is truly captivating. Mike Mussleman (drums) and Nick Chamian (bass) round out the four piece with one of the most impressive, and methodical rhythm sections in indie rock today. Individually the band members have worked with artists/bands including Feist, Bastille, Kamasi Washington, Randy Jackson, Keith Urban, Kimbra among others. They met in 2014 and quickly caught the attention of famed producer/engineer Eric Lilavois (Saint Motel, Atlas Genius) who produced their upcoming release ‘Good God’ and recorded it at the famed London Bridge Studios in Seattle. ‘Good God’ begins with the commanding single ‘Delroy Lindo’ ‘Delroy Lindo’ is a fantastic piece of musicianship, it flawlessly weaves together cinematic rock with a truly unique voice and spectacular harmonies. It almost feels classically written with a beautiful elegant viola melody interweaving between the vocals in a sort of call and response style. Both the dynamic sweet vocals and viola seem to have a conversation which the listener is witnessing. The addition of vibrato on the viola adds a sort of agitation to this tender conversation. The drums are light and come in and out in places during the verse and then hold a soft steady foundation behind the chorus adding a depth to the track. The lush graceful harmonies add to the angelic blissful music and sombre heartbreaking tone. The bass is smooth and supple and blends perfectly with the overall experience.
‘Delroy Lindo’ is “about two people who moved to the West Coast to be together, only to have the illusion of what they thought waited for them be eaten alive by their false romanticism” and Forbear portray this image to us perfectly. They use their spectacular talents to convey a tender emotional theme in such a beautiful unique way. It is an honest, true, raw and heartbreaking yet elegant, fascinating and graceful surreal experience. Forebear put into words and music the feelings that are always so difficult for us to express ourselves and that is truly skillful.
A must listen!
Good God is set for release August 26 and if ‘Delroy Lindo’ is anything to go by its going to be amazing.
Stream ‘Delroy Lindo’ below
Originating from a combination of Stockport, Devon, Yorkshire and Liverpool, BARRON are Alex Barron on piano and lead vocals, Lewis Jones on guitar and backing vocals, Ryan Lee on Bass, synth and backing vocals and Aaron Haigh on drums. They have gathered a following from their energetic live performances and memorable feel good sound. Their most recent release ‘We Can Run’ is a polished uplifting track with a smooth ” free as a bird” vibe. The airy motivating chorus and smooth vocals make you want to drop everything and go on a road trip. With its light pop beats and running piano this song can make you believe you could fly. ‘Waiting For’ again is an uplifting anthem with piano riffs bouncing along behind and forming the backbone of the track. Its light pop beats and soft vocals make this track very catchy and atmospheric. With strong chorus and bridge which softens to make way for a piano solo until it kicks into the final intense emotional chorus. ‘All For You’ is a melodic sentimental track, with again beautiful piano and soft accompaniment. With a heartfelt chorus you can imagine the crowd at a gig swaying and pouring their hearts out as they belt out the chorus. The sweet vocal harmonies create a tender atmospheric vibe.
BARRON have recently finished their début EP and are set to release their First Single ‘Waiting For’ so keep your eyes out for that.
Stream ‘We Can Run’ and ‘All For You’ Below
Indie: (n) an obscure form of rock which you only learn about from someone slightly more hip than yourself.
