Feldpsar are back with the second in a series of singles to promote their “Compass Tour,” and “Cure For The Night” is a rousing return.
The band call themselves indie-folk, but listening to the lyrics they are much more than that. Feldspar are modern story-tellers—invigorating life into the folk genre while giving their indie side an injection of intelligence. They straddle the line between both, but manage to merge them splendidly at once.
Feldspar’s “Compass Tour” sees the band exploring the four corners of the UK (and London!) throughout Autumn. This is reflected in their singles with the band exploring different “compass points” of human emotion exploring heartache, lust, mortality, and anger.
Feldpsar continue to prove they do intelligent, thoughtful indie-folk effortlessly.
With the release of their fantastic album Politricks this week, we had to feature Einar Stray Orchestra as our latest Artist of the Week. Hailing from Norway, they blend uplifting indie and elements of traditional folk but bring their own unique spin to each and every track.
The album itself is a journey as the band brave the world as young adults with their heads held high and their eyes wide open. From start to finish, the band present a kaleidoscope of emotions with strings, guitars, drums, keys, and honey sweet vocals coming together as one. It’s hard to believe a band this young sounds so accomplished.
Politricks is only their second album but their first as Einar Stray Orchestra (their debut, Chiaroscuro was released under Einar Stray). However, now that front man Einar Stray has added his Orchestra, the band finally feels complete. They are one of the most exciting bands to emerge from Europe and let’s hope we see a lot more of them in the UK.
This Welsh duo may be young but there’s a lot of promise ahead for Jessie Hallett and Luke Searle. The chemistry between the two is electric as they present their elegant indie folk single “Stay,” set for release on 20th October 2014.
Having met whilst studying in Bridgend, South Wales, they’ve combined their love of ’70s artists like Fleetwood Mac and have given the sound a modern twist—think The Civil Wars meets Lorde combined with that Stevie Nicks/Lindsey Buckingham chemistry that contributed to Fleetwood Mac’s legendary sound.
The single is a promising start for the pair and with an EP out soon after, we predict big things next year for Remembering August.
Mano’s Daughter’s latest EP “Shiver” presents a darker, more cerebral side to the London-based electro trio. With these five tracks, it marks a busy end to the year for the band as they retreat into Autumnal hibernation.
Their previous EP, “Smart” was bright and poppy—it was the “Jessie Ware-esque end” of the female fronted electro pop crossover genre with intelligent, sparkling tunes that glittered in the gloom. This latest EP starts with the same pace as “What’s A Girl Supposed To Do” bursts into life and invigorates with an energetic opening. However, this is only the start of our journey as the band take us down darker paths as the EP journeys on.
“Wheels” is the first step into the unknown as Sarah Carter’s vocals soar and penetrate the dark empty spaces, forcing us to listen closer. “Little Heart” opens the door for a little melancholy and with “This House,” it’s hard not to imagine Sarah beautifully lit in a smokey alien lounge somewhere on a distant futuristic plain—a little Blade Runner—and there’s nothing wrong with that. However, it’s their epic track “You” that gives us an indication of where the band will take us next. The track spans just over 7-minutes and feels like the band are truly blasting us off into a dreamy soundscape, on a moon somewhere far away. It’s beautiful.
Although there’s an abundance of strong female fronted electro crossover acts at the moment, Mano’s Daughter’s unique genre blending, electro sci-fi melancholia is a breath of fresh air. The EP is a bold statement of intent and wherever the band blasts off to next, we want to go with them.
Einar Stray Orchestra are Norway’s latest shining stars as they return with their brand new album Politricks, out on October 6th 2014.
Formerly Einar Stray, this new direction for the band sees them explore the theme of “growing up.” Although there’s a distinct maturity to their sound, their youthful foundation is ever present with the band being led by Einar Stray, barely 24-years-old and producing a sound that would put many Mercury Music Prize nominees to shame.
The band have recently announced a string of European dates including one UK show on October 6th at The Islington. Tickets are available now and it’ll be UK fans’ only chance to see the band this side of Christmas.
Ben Cooling has been writing and playing music for over a decade now but his new single, “Breathe Again” signals a new direction for Cooling—bursting with heartfelt lyrics and honest, down to earth acoustic melodies.
The track is seemingly about regrets, and you can hear the melancholy underlying throughout. Ben’s style could be compared to that of Frank Turner’s or Charlie Simpson’s latest output, but there’s also an old school folk feel about what Ben’s doing which feels honest and organic.
Although he’s been performing for so long, he only started journeying down the solo road back in 2012. Since then he’s signed to the Circus City Music Group. Hopefully this single heralds the release of more music from Mr. Cooling—so watch this space.
Feldspar’s latest single “Song Without A Chorus” isn’t your usual run of the mill single release—it’s part of a bigger picture of single releases, one of four to be exact.
This ambitious release plan begins with the elegant “Song Without A Chorus” which straddles between folk and rollocking, epic indie rock. This first single is about loss and memory and that sentiment echoes throughout the harmonies and powerful melodies throughout as this promising five-piece sing and play heart of sleeves, passion a plenty.
Imagine what Wilco and Ryan Adams would sound like if they decided to join forces—this is Feldspar. They’re a band with the delicate Ryan Adams touch and that slightly more quirky, infectious Wilco spirit.
“Song Without A Chorus” is a very strong introduction to the band’s single a month idea and as the seasons change, let’s look forward to a different melody a month to roll in the ever looming winter months ahead.
Scotland’s ever proving to be a place bursting with new talent. Hello Future are the latest indie rockers to emerge from the ashes of an old band but with a new sound and new look.
“Do You Feel Alive” is their debut single which won’t be out until October—but the stream is available online now and thank goodness too because it’s the perfect post summer track to see in the Autumn.
Although the band cite influences from Blink 182 to Biffy Clyro, they’ve honed their own sound that captures melancholy and hope all at once, a sound that’s exuberant and catchy and will have you toe-tapping along in no time.
This is the only track the band have released online so far but we’re already excited to hear more. If this is their opening gambit, we can’t imagine where they’ll take us next.
With Speakman Sound’s single “In Flight” out this week, we thought it only appropriate to anoint them as our latest Band of the Week.
The brothers, Todd and Guy Speakman, are already skilled producers, running a studio of their own in London. However, this year they’ve been quietly releasing their own material which has seen them slowly climb the ranks of definite ones to watch. Their roots in electronica cross over with their love of Detroit House and ’60s psychedelia.
Giving the music a modern edge, Speakman Sound have managed to create a beautiful, open sound of their own with “In Flight,” one which they can be proud of and many fans of the genre will enjoy.
After the release of free track “My Way Home,” Blair Jollands’ single “Carve It Up” evokes an old-skool rock melody with a modern twist.
In this video, the London dwelling New Zealander is seen wandering through many different landscapes with his guitar. It’s apt considering Blair’s melodies and lyrics conjure the essence of an ever wandering soul. Blair creates warm soundscapes reflecting his own life and travels.
Blair is also an accomplished composer for film and has worked on several soundtracks including Pride and Bleak House. His love of sound is ever-present throughout his tracks as each whistle, strum, and beat resonate with precision.
Having played this year’s Great Escape and the Camden Crawl, Mr. Jollands’ forthcoming album, set for release this October, is much-anticipated. Blair is a welcomed breath of fresh air to the modern folk rock scene.
Chromatone is back with a fresh new look and a fresh new sound with his latest single “Play For Me.” The single is a real change of direction for the young singer, it’s sharper and edgier with that signature Chromatone flair.
The breakdowns and melodies hark back to a soulful pop sound with Chromatone’s silky vocals floating over each layer of instrumentation. There’s a bit of a “jam” like feel to this, which replaces much of the digitised, clinical vibe that most pop songs have these days.
Despite this new sound for Chromatone, he’s competing in a fast paced, razor-sharp pop market. He’s clearly a talented artist older beyond his years, but with big players like Bruno Mars and Justin Timberlake constantly pushing the boundaries of pop, similarly hand picking elements of the old-skool, Chromatone may have to fine tune a little harder to keep up with the rest.
However, “Play For Me” is still a catchy pop tune that showcases this young artist’s talents. He has an exciting road ahead and it still feels as though his sound is ever-changing with each step Chromatone takes.
Sheffield three-piece The Retrospectives draw upon influences from the ’60s and mid ’90s Britpop as they present their latest single “Insane.”
Although “Insane” is a departure from their usual high-octane indie rock, it shows a different side to the band—a more introspective side. Having gained fans up north playing shows with the likes of The Buzzcocks and featuring as one of BBC Introducing Sheffield’s top ten tracks of the year, it feels as though The Retrospectives momentum is really starting to pick up.
They’re one of many bands up north leading the way for the return of proper old-skool indie rock, and with “Insane” presenting a different side of the band, we can’t wait to hear more.
Taken from their debut album Freezer,The/Das’ latest video for single “Miami Waters” is visually fun and sonically ferocious—they’re one of the most exciting electro bands to emerge from Berlin in the last few years and it’s not hard to hear why.
The video paints the band in a different light that we’ve been used seeing them in. Moving away from that dark electro image they’ve built around themselves, the video for “Miami Waters” is an ode to one of Anton Feist’s ancestors, the late Friedrich Feist.
Friedrich was a sailor and “wanderlust vagabond” as described by the band, and “Miami Waters” sees Anton dressed in a sailor outfit, clapping along to the track against a beautiful deserted shoreline.
“Miami Waters” is released on August 25th with the album, Freezer, out now on Berlin label Sinnbus.
Fjørds are the most recent newcomers on the Welsh music scene, rising from the green, lush hills of Wales as they present their latest single “Sulwyn.”
The track takes the best dark ’80s electro indie pop as the band fuse influences ranging from Japan to Joy Division and with the recent surge of the ’90s throwback sound—this is a welcomed change. This is the band’s fourth independent release and an exciting time for them as they’ve begun to gain interest with taste makers like BBC 6 Music’s Steve Lamacq.
The darker ’80s sound felt throughout paired with the vocals has a Numan-esque feel. However, Fjørds don’t isolate their audience, the catchy chorus will have you singing along by the end and definitely clicking repeat.
“Sulwyn” is a genuinely interesting single amongst the nonsense on the scene at the moment and one of Wales’ most promising acts—watch out for these guys.
IndianRedLopez have created a track that’s ambitious, experimental, and eminently listenable. It’s easy to get lost in “Any Given City” as you never quite know where the track’s going to take you, and it’s all the stronger for it.
Electro, indie, alternative, and shoegaze influences in the mould of Mew at their best come to the fore as IndianRedLopez create a song that should be a template for their sound going forward.
CS Buchan is the founder of Fit Like Records which has released the double A-side single. His daughter Katie (aka Best Girl Athlete) features on both tracks and, at just 16 years old, it is clear that her voice is far more mature than her tender years.
On first listen this is standard folk fare but, delve deeper and you have a beautifully crafted song that melds indie, folk, and traditional Celtic music to create a wonderfully listenable track that, in a strange way, compliments IRL’s more eclectic offering very nicely.
