Single Reviews (Page 5)

Some songs simply invite you to slow down, settle into their world, and discover their emotional depth at your own pace. And that is precisely what Sarah Wendlandt and Franzi Berg achieve with ‘Oh June’, an elegantly crafted indie-folk single that feels both comforting and quietly inspiring. Hailing from Leipzig, the duo haveContinue Reading

Some bands arrive with carefully curated biographies and clearly defined influences. But The Essence of The Universe seem intent on doing the opposite. Wrapped in playful mythology and surreal humour, the Swedish duo present themselves as an enigma, leaving us to separate fact from fiction while allowing the music to remain theContinue Reading

There is a quiet irony at the centre of The Subtheory’s latest single. In an age defined by constant updates, endless opinions and an ever-growing stream of information, ‘Things That Caught My Attention’ deliberately slows us down, inviting reflection rather than reaction. Built around spoken-word delivery, the Oxford outfit continue to explore the intersectionContinue Reading

There is something reassuring about Ian Roland’s songwriting. Instead of embracing spectacle or leaning on overworked sentimentality, he has a knack for finding emotional truth in ordinary moments, and ‘Boxing Gloves’ may be one of his most affecting compositions to date. Built around the familiar imagery of the boxing ring, the BrightonContinue Reading

There is a quiet confidence running through Sara Gerdine’s latest single ‘Time Waits For No One’. It’s a song rooted in folk and country traditions while subtly informed by her classical background, as the Irish singer-songwriter delivers a composition that feels both timeless and deeply personal throughout. Centred on the inevitabilityContinue Reading

Every generation seems to search for its own version of grunge, but few young bands manage to capture the genre’s restless energy without simply recreating the past. Finnish trio Aspesti come remarkably close on ‘Blank’, a single that channels the raw spirit of 90s alternative rock while sounding firmly rooted in the frustrationsContinue Reading

After spending recent years expanding his sound across the wide-open landscapes of alternative country, Podge Lane takes a bold creative step in the opposite direction with ‘The Dregs’. Rather than reaching for larger arrangements or grander production, the Irish singer-songwriter pares everything back to its bare essentials, uncovering one of the mostContinue Reading

There are songs that transport us to another place, and then there are songs that quietly challenge the way they see the world. With her latest outing ‘South Sudan’, Berlin-based artist Roxy Rawson crafts a deeply affecting piece of chamber-folk that feels as reflective as it is emotionally overwhelming. Inspired by timeContinue Reading

Seattle artist Dan Powers continues to carve out an increasingly compelling identity with Mutual Shock, and on ‘The Spectacle’ he delivers his most immediate and fully realised statement yet. Serving as the final preview of the forthcoming ‘Tools of Western Aggression’ EP, the single fuses industrial grit, darkwave pulse and cinematic atmosphere into aContinue Reading