Category Archives: Alt- Pop

Alt- Pop, EP Review, Indie, Indie Pop, New Music, Synth-pop

Lady Landscape ‘2’ EP

Meath-based five-piece, Lady Landscape have released their new EP ‘2’. Founded by Alex Harrison and Ryan McDonnell in late 2018, Lady Landscape embrace a lo-fi sound that combines rich synth textures, dreamy guitar rhythms and smooth baritone vocals. ​Upon forming, the then two piece band released their first EP ‘1’ in 2018, before taking a short hiatus, whilst Harrison spent some time in Vancouver, Canada to work on new demos. McDonnell and Harrison then returned to work in their makeshift bedroom studios to craft and shape their second release ‘2’. Constantly developing their sound with each release, Lady Landscape became a five-piece in 2019, incorporating friends of the group: Jamie Reynolds (Drums), Tiernan Buckley (Bass) and Adam Ollin (Lead Guitar), for a series of live shows in Dublin.

‘2’ is a four track treasure of laid back dreamy tunes that melt into your brain with euphoric delight. The bands simplistic approach creates tracks that are easy on the ears as they fill the songs with mellow tones and luscious textures. ‘Nanaimo’ kick starts their sun kissed sound with an angel delight-dipped melody, nonchalant vocals and twinkling instrumentation. With glistening guitars flickering between the hazy soundscape while a buoyant beat keeps the track peppy and light, ‘Nanaimo’ flurries by with effortless charm and soothing tones. The band blend rich and rejuvenating musicianship with calm, soft lo-fi pop soundscapes and shimmering synths seamlessly. A good example of this is the ethereal ‘Kitsilano’ which was previously featured on Indie Buddie. With their tight musicianship and indie pop sprinkles, Lady Landscape create an EP that is delicious and refreshing. The tranquilizing tones continue with ‘Jericho’ , a sweet ditty with a mesmerising guitar melody and majestic synths. These guys have a knack for honeyed, velvety melodies and ‘Jericho’ takes that skill and turns it up a notch as they subtly surge the track with a 60’s flower power vibe all while layering the track in rich rhythms and glorious sun kissed textures. Final track ‘Varanasi’ brings the EP to a gentle and peaceful end as the tender melody drifts upon a glistening soundscape of soft guitar, and spacey synth elements while the baritone vocals coo the sweet lullaby- esque lyrics. This psychedelic hue closes out the EP allowing you to sail away into a delicate dreamland gracefully.  

‘2’ is a wholly satisfying EP as Lady Landscape’s mature, beautiful sound gently blossoms with refinement and grace – it’s captivating and unique.

Stream ‘2’ below


Alt- Pop, Indie, Jazz, New Music, Singer/Songwriter

Eoin ‘Infinite’

Cork singer songwriter Eoin has released his new single ‘Infinite’. The track is taken off his upcoming album, ‘Reverie’.He has played headline slots in venues like DeBarra’s Folk Club and The Poor Relation as well as support slots in the Crane Lane and Roisin Dubh.

‘Infinite’ is an easy going ditty that glides on a steady beat and soft instrumentation as Eoin’s velvety vocals caress the melty melody. The track is laid back and filled with soulful passion as the warm guitar jingles, upon a soft beat.As the song progresses it builds to an intense expressive chorus filled with shrilling sharp guitars and thrilling distortion before settling back down to its floaty dreamy state. With a rich cello feature and fire side glowing atmosphere this jazz hued, beautifully crafted track showcases Eoin’s diverse and full-bodied musicianship.

Stream  ‘Infinite’ below


Alt- Pop, Dream Pop, electro- pop, Electronic, Indie, Indie Pop, New Music

Mushroom People ‘Vertigo’ Premier

Mushroom People have released their new single ‘Vertigo’. Mushroom People want to start a new chapter of their career. ”Vertigo’ is about freedom, it’s about letting go, outgrowing yourself–and all the fears that are coming with it.”

‘Vertigo’ places the luscious pop sound of Mushroom People firmly in our minds and hearts. With its twinkling guitars, dreamy melody and exhilarating electronics this track builds superbly into Mushroom People’s most captivating sound to date. An enchanting bass groove weaves beneath massive beat drops and pulses while the spiritual guitar illuminates the track with sun kissed sprinkles of delight. Lenny’s deep vocals charm and soothe while that delicious catchy melody seeps gently into the  ears with an easy going warmth compelling you to put this track on repeat. With a sweet flurrying string element blended within this sublime number Mushroom People have created one heart stopping gem.

About the track vocalist Lenny said “At some point last year we found ourselves not writing the music we really like, but now with some time to rethink the whole project we finally managed to create something we deeply care about.”

Stream ‘Vertigo’ below


Album Review, Alt- Pop, Indie, Indie Pop, New Music, Synth-pop

Holden Laurence ‘Rewire’ Album

Cleveland-based Indie/Alternative artist Holden Laurence has released his Sophomore album ‘Rewire’ and will celebrate with a release show at Mahall’s on May 17th alongside Niights and Punch Drunk Tagalongs. Like his previous release ‘Wild Empty Promises’, Laurence once again recruited drummer Michael O’Brien of The Modern Electric to provide the pulse of Rewire. The Rewire sessions were recorded at Fe True Productions(Cleveland) and Bobby Peru Recording Studios (Milwaukee), and were engineered, mixed, and mastered by Shane Olivo, in partnership with executive producer Dr. Michael Bell.In addition to self-producing for the second time, all instruments and vocals, with the exception of drums and percussion, were performed by Holden Laurence

‘Rewire’ is a luscious and compelling collection of alternative 80’s pop submerged in beautiful vivid musicianship as Laurence wraps each track in glorious sugary synths that flash and seep their glucose sweetness through tracks like ‘Shadows of Old Love’, ‘Friendship and The Fever’ and ‘Speaking in Tongues’ .The emotional melodies melt into the tracks effortlessly and rest easily on the ear with bittersweet nostalgia blending with melancholic tones. The velvety vocals exude passion as the glistening sharp guitars weave zesty melodies throughout. The tracks whirl and glissade smoothly from vivid bass grooves and meaty drum progressions to ethereal dreamy tones seamlessly creating a vibrant and texture throughout the album. The emotional tender tracks like ‘Lightning Strikes’, ‘Rewire’,‘Desire’ and ‘Roses and a Romeo Mask’ are beautifully presented with delicate passion and gripping soundscapes while the more upbeat, indie speckled, sun kissed gems like ‘We’ll Always Have the Radio’ illuminate the album with a euphoric laid back tone of delight. Laurence brings us down a sultry nostalgic road of longing with ‘Mary Magdalene’ with its wistful, heart stopping melody and gripping soundscapes that is sure to rest charmingly in the heart of any one who listens to it. The album comes to a beautiful and delicate end with the track ‘The Southern Wind’ as warm guitar twinkles about a soft melody and lush harmony. It’s a charming number that builds becoming more dynamic as it blossoms into a heart warming ditty with honest lyrical content and pure emotional tones.

‘Rewire’ is a richly satisfying album that boasts Holden Laurence’s immaculate, passionate and rich musicianship.

Stream ‘Rewire’ below


Alt- Pop, Indie, Indie Pop, indie rock, New Music

Lonnie Storey ‘Silver and Glass’

Photo Credit: Zach Clapham

South-East London artist Lonnie Storey has released his new single ‘Silver and Glass’. This dreamy sun specked number floats upon a melted ice cream sundae melody while a sweet vaporous indie soundscape jingles and glimmers in the background. The track glides and sluggishly droops between energetic bursts and laid back breezy vibes with zest-stricken guitar melodies, elastic bass grooves and a danceable beat. It’s infectious, vibrant and quirky with nonchalant vocals cooing through the verses before becoming more dynamic for the catchy chorus. Filled with swagger and effortless suaveness this glossy, fizzing pop gem builds to a psych hued crescendo that is simply divine.

On ‘Silver and Glass’ Lonnie shares: ‘Silver and Glass is all about becoming a hot vapid mess,being so obsessed with image and presentation, hoping it will cover the cracks in a fragile, unhinged personality, whose self esteem leaked out of them overnight.”

Stream ‘Silver and Glass’ below


Alt- Pop, electro- pop, Electronic, Indie, Indie Pop, New Music, Synth-pop

SADSUN ‘Heads or (Tails)’

Newcastle moody synth-pop duo SADSUN have released their new single ‘Heads or (Tails)’. SADSUN made their debut on the scene in February with their single ‘Control’, an addictively delirious synth-pop track with dark and atmospheric undertones. Gaining praise from the likes of The Line of Best Fit, God Is In The TV and BBC Music Introducing North East, founded by talented musicians, Aimy Miller (vocals/production) and Simon Atkinson (synths/guitar/production), SADSUN blend uplifting vintage pop sensibilities and brooding introspective lyricism with a cinematic backdrop.

‘Heads or (Tails)’ is a refreshing burst of synth pop shimmering with a glorious 80’s pop sheen. The funky guitars inject and weave a groovy thread throughout this laid back summer number while the glistening synths and sticky, pulsing beat create a breathtaking ethereal atmosphere. With smooth vocals caressing the nostalgic melody this sweet, summer baked gem is an easy listening catchy track to put on repeat.

Speaking on ‘Heads or (Tails)’, vocalist, Aimy Miller explained: “Heads or (Tails) is an attempt at exploring the chaos of emotions. When it was written, I was struggling to get a grip on how I was feeling day to day – it felt as though it could literally be down to a flip of a coin. One moment I was over the moon happy, the next I was through the floor hopeless and experiencing a lot of physical pain. I was aware how it must have been for someone to see me like that and i just wanted everything to stop.”

Stream  ‘Heads or (Tails)’ below


Alt- Pop, Indie, Indie Pop, indie rock, New Music

wojtek the bear ‘tonic youth’

Glasgow four-piece wojtek the bear have released their new single ‘tonic youth’.The track is the first of four singles being released by wojtek the bear during 2019, which will be collected on a limited edition 10” vinyl in the autumn.

‘tonic youth’ is a blissful refreshing can of indie pop brimming with sugary melodies, lush harmonies and vibrant instrumentation. This dreamy number chimes with radiant guitars, a pulsing bassline and a peppy beat. The track majestically floats along the buoyant rhythmic foundation while the smooth vocals coo behind a graceful string melody. These guys have fleshed out one beautiful track that glimmers with sun kissed vibes while drifting delicately on a laid back tone of ecstasy.

Of the track, lead singer Tam Killean reveals; “When I first moved into Glasgow in my early 20’s I quickly encountered people at parties I’d never been exposed to before; kids who’d never worked a day in their life, spent their summers in Val-d’Isére or Biarritz and all seemed to have fucking ponies. This song is about how initially on coming into contact with them I had a bit of a crisis of confidence, thinking that I’d wasted my life by just getting absolutely smashed from the age of 15 onwards.”

Stream ‘tonic youth’ below


Alt Rock, Alt- Pop, Funk, Indie, Indie Pop, indie rock, New Music

NULLA ‘Sunyata’

Photo Credit : Sophie Biliz-Reeves

Liverpool band NULLA have released their debut single ‘Sunyata’. With its infectious groove, laid back swagger and silken guitar lines  ‘Sunyata’ is a tight impressive debut from Nulla. The guitars inject a zesty refreshness into the track as they shrill and lightly zing through the ethereal soundscape. A melty pop melody floats upon the dreamy soundscape with a buoyant beat and elastic bass groove creating that charming hip moving foundation for this easy going gem. With its catchy melody, velvety vocals, shredding solo and sun kissed radiance ‘Sunyata’ is a glorious jazz-drizzled ditty to keep you smiling all day.

Stream ‘Sunyata’ below


Alt Rock, Alt- Pop, Indie, Indie Pop, indie rock, New Music, Psych-Pop, psychedelic

Thumper ‘In My Room’

Dublin’s Thumper have released their new single ‘In My Room’. With major radio support across Ireland and the UK and stretching as far as Brazil, these guys are currently riding high on Spotify’s Hot New Bands playlist.

‘In My Room’ is an erosive blast of psych pop that corrodes with blistering guitars and pummeling drums creating an exhilarating wall of sound while the pop smacked melody coats the track in sugary fizz. This frenzied track froths with shrilling distortion and abrasive instrumentation as the rumbling elastic bass slaps and grooves infectiously behind the crashing majestic guitar-burns while the smooth vocals bounce along the bubblegum melody. The track builds into a sonic blast of pounding rhythms and mania for the thrilling crescendo as this adrenaline-inducing song shows Thumper at their most intoxicating. It’s one hell of a tune made for playing as loud as possible.

Watch the video for ‘In My Room’ below


Alt- Pop, Dream Pop, Indie, Indie Pop, indie rock, New Music

Velvet ‘Drift’

Five piece band Velvet have released their new single ‘Drift’ – a dreamy sun speckled number that floats along a sweet melody, vibrant guitar jingles and a punchy beat. This candied sugary pop ditty swirls around your ears with its delicious laid back melody while raspy warm vocals coo and soothe. The glistening guitar wisps about the track’s melody lifting this ethereal hazy number and adds a zesty sting. With a subtle indie rock backdrop providing instrumental depths and rich texture the track bops along brimming with summer vibes. This luscious, glorious track is another delightful gem from Velvet.

About the track the band said: “The story behind the song was feelings and emotion felt during a gap year in Australia and reflecting back on that. The feeling of drifting away from someone and accepting that for what it is. It was the first song we wrote so it’s nice to finally get it out there, it’s changed a lot over time but we first started writing it in summer 2018”

Stream ‘Drift’ below