ferb kick against the closed doors of the London scene on ‘Killing It’
There’s a particular kind of anger that comes from feeling visible to everyone except the people whose attention seems to matter most. And on their latest anthem ‘Killing It’, Kingston-based alt-rock band ferb take that frustration and drive it straight through a tightly wound, radio-ready burst of post-punk energy. Formed by four schoolContinue Reading
Carl Krausnick lets reflection gather weight on ‘Important Questions’
‘Important Questions’ begins with very little ceremony. A lean guitar figure, an understated vocal and the feeling of a thought being spoken before it has been fully organised are enough to set the track in motion. From there, Memphis artist Carl Krausnick gradually increases its scale, allowing a private reflectionContinue Reading
George Styles keeps the mystery intact on ‘Better Conversation’
George Styles approaches music without much interest in explaining it. The Boston-based singer-songwriter writes, performs and produces alone, offers little detail about the story behind his latest single, and appears completely comfortable with the possibility that listeners may interpret it in ways he never intended. But that openness gives ‘Better Conversation’ anContinue Reading
Jetlag explore the uneasy aftermath of excess on ‘Wicked Tongue’
Jetlag’s new single ‘Wicked Tongue’ examines the period after a relationship has ended, when memory, guilt and self-doubt begin to overlap. Written following the collapse of frontman Simon Glancy’s relationship, the track focuses on nights used as a form of escape and the uncertainty that followed when parts of thoseContinue Reading
NO IDENTITY builds uneasy industrial pop from the wreckage on ‘Almost Nothing’
There’s a difference between poor sound quality and deliberate ugliness, and on ‘Almost Nothing’, Olathe artist NO IDENTITY works carefully within that distinction by turning distortion, digital clutter and limited recording equipment into the foundations of a track that is abrasive without becoming shapeless. Written, performed, produced, mixed and masteredContinue Reading
Baldy Crawlers examine the shared burden of conflict on ‘Hatred?’
Baldy Crawlers introduce their forthcoming EP Fais Toi Plaisir with ‘Hatred?’, a contemporary folk song concerned with the psychological demands of war. But instead of presenting just a broad political argument, the group focuses on a single question: what happens when one person is expected to deny the humanity of another? TheContinue Reading
Land Mass channels his private turmoil on debut EP ‘Fading’
At first, the tracks ‘Trojan Horses’ and ‘I’ll Follow You’ appear to belong to different releases. One moves with immediate melodic energy, its rhythms pushing forward and its sharper structure offering the closest thing ‘Fading’ has to an obvious entry point. The other takes its time, spreading guitars across a much broaderContinue Reading
GLEET examine the politics of language on ‘Strident’
GLEET’s new single ‘Strident’ begins with a familiar linguistic imbalance. The word is often applied to women who speak firmly or express strong opinions, while similarly forceful behaviour from men is more readily accepted as confidence, authority or even conviction. The group use that discrepancy as the basis for a comparatively pared-backContinue Reading
Spanish Castles draws on old-world traditions for the atmospheric ‘Sombra Del Sol’
On his latest offering ‘Sombra Del Sol’, Spanish Castles brings together a broad range of historical and regional influences without forcing them into a conventional rock or singer-songwriter format. The EP is built primarily around guitar, atmosphere and instrumental storytelling, resulting in a release that feels considered, detailed and strongly connectedContinue Reading
Red Bird broaden their guitar-rock palette on ‘The Follies’
Red Bird approach their new EP ‘The Follies’ with a degree of understatement. Across five tracks, the Oxnard band favour direct arrangements, loosely textured guitars and reflective songwriting over dramatic production or overt displays of ambition. The result is a compact indie-rock release concerned with uncertainty, ageing and the attempt to findContinue Reading