From the start, CAR287’s song Muddy Waters makes an impact. The energy in the opening is strong, and it grabs the listener’s interest. It’s the kind of track that makes you want to crank up the volume and keep it there. The song carries that same feeling throughout. One of the highlights of the song is the guitar playing. It’s […]
Pop-Rock/Review Sean MacLeod – I’ve Seen You Around
“I’ve Seen You Around” is a new single from Sean MacLeod, and it’s like discovering a new place where you didn’t know it existed. It has a quiet and unusual feeling that draws you in instead of pushing you away. It’s never predictable where the song will take you and that unpredictability makes it interesting. One of the most noticeable […]
Pop-Rock/Review Franklin Gotham – Lisboa
I was hooked on Franklin Gotham’s new song Lisboa from the first listen. The track has a light, easy feeling throughout, encouraging you to pause to appreciate the moment. The song sounds like it’s always on the move, never lingering long in any one position. The vocals really carry the song. The singing is so memorable, it just doesn’t go […]
ROCK/Review Mercy Kelly – Summer of Silence
The new EP from Mercy Kelly, Summer of Silence, is one that gradually builds upon itself. Listening to the four songs, you begin to see how confident the band is. They appear to be at ease as a team. There is no rush at all, and that relaxed attitude is a key part of why it works well. Breathe For […]
ROCK/Review Fiona Amaka – Justified
Fiona Amaka’s new song Justified got me in the right mood. It’s a song that makes you take a moment to listen. It has a comfortable feeling all throughout the track, like you’re with someone you know, and that someone knows you as well. The first thing that comes to mind is her voice. The song feels natural and honest, […]
Pop-Rock/Review LY@TT (pronounced “Late”) – Song for Pete Ham
LY@TT have released “Song for Pete Ham,” and it’s one of those songs that will live in your head for a long time after it has concluded. It’s a homage to a musician whose songs touched so many of those who followed. The care and respect can be heard throughout. All parts are genuine, and none try to be more […]
ROCK/Review Baïki – KosmoX
Songs that get you moving, and songs that get you thinking as you move. BAÏKI’s “KosmoX” manages to do both at once, which is no easy feat. The bassline and percussion are punchy from the get-go and never let go. The singing is a different thing. It’s theatrical, it’s like they’re winking at you, and it’s exactly what the concept […]
Pop/Review Allegra – Waterfall
There are some songs that just sound different when played. “Waterfall” is one of those songs for Allegra. It is played once, and you are back again before you know it. As it flows, there’s something about it. Open and light, lots of space in the music. It gently draws you in and holds your attention. The production is neat […]
Pop/Review Anna Thoresen – GROUNDHOG DAY
Anna Thoresen’s “GROUNDHOG DAY” has you in the middle of the experience of doing the same thing over and over and getting nowhere. It’s not a simple emotion to put to music, but she does it well. All decisions made in the song are well considered and contribute to the feeling of being trapped in the same patterns. The chord […]
EDM/Review dj thommek – A Little Bit (After Hours Rework)
DJ Thommek’s “A Little Bit (After Hours Rework)” takes you right into that after-hours feeling that does not wish to end. It’s a familiar one, you’re likely to know it. The party is winding down, but no one is quite ready to call it quits. This track does a fantastic job of capturing that in-between moment, and it remains with […]
GOSPEL/Review Dianne Forte – “Hallelujah” Just Keep Your Heads Up Now (Instrumental)
No words are needed for Dianne Forte’s instrumental “Hallelujah Just Keep Your Heads Up Now.” Music is really the only talking that goes on, and it’s done very well. The first few seconds of this song tell you where it’s going. The entire track is full of lift. It doesn’t rush you there though. The pacing is slow, as though […]
ROCK/Review Grekula – Detached
Grekula’s new song “Detached” is somewhat like viewing old photos and not getting the full picture of a person. In the middle of the track is that strange, quiet feeling. It is definitely there, and the song is not overly explicit. It allows the “feeling” to be heard. This song has a lot of emotion in the piano. Mathias Thijssen’s […]
Pop-Rock/Review vanna pacella – Plead
Vanna Pacella’s “Plead” exudes an uneasy sense that you can’t shake. There’s a frustration under all of the song, which never comes to a head but remains constant throughout. You can sense that feeling even before you know what the song is talking about. A lot of this is done with her voice. It skips from soft to strong and […]
Pop/Review SEBASTIAN RYDGREN – night hours
Sebastian Rydgren’s new song “night hours” stays with you after the music has stopped. It’s about loving somebody who doesn’t love you back. That’s evident throughout the entire song. There’s nothing forced or artificial about it. It is straightforward and simple. Much of the feeling in this song is in his voice. He is not trying to sing too much […]
FOLK POP/Review Dalinda – The Nile
Dalinda’s “The Nile” starts with a subtle, weighty quietness; quietness that makes you pause, that makes you listen. Nothing feels rushed. It’s a slow song from the get-go, and it’s going to take its time to draw you in before the first lyric. It is relaxed and confident, allowing it to settle into the mood. She is tender, and her […]
Pop-Rock/Review Tom Minor – Bureau of Change
The kind of song that doesn’t last very long on Tom Minor’s “Bureau Of Change”. The sensation of perpetual motion is one of the many reasons it is fun. Within the span of a couple of minutes, it changes style and mood several times. It’s constantly on the move, and you don’t know what to expect. The first thing that […]
ROCK/Review Despite the Wane – All in Vain
Despite the Wane opens “All in Vain” with a guitar line that sets the tone from the get-go. It’s dark and it’s beautiful. It has a nice chill to it, but it’s not going overboard trying to catch your eye. Rather, it gradually draws you in. Right off the bat, it’s obvious the band is going for a specific vibe. […]
Metal/Review Fenix From Yesterday – RAGE
Fenix From Yesterday is impressive from the get-go with RAGE, and the pace doesn’t slow down. The band is definitely aware of the level of intensity they are looking to achieve, and they are all 100% dedicated to delivering it. They’re not afraid to show their full selves from the first riff. Each moment is powerful and focused. The vocals […]
Synth-Pop/Review CARLOS UCEDDA – The DJINN
From the get-go, Carlos Ucedda’s “The DJINN” takes you on a path that leads you far away from the mundane. It has the feeling of being on a late-night dance floor and in a mythical place at the same time. The song has a continuous electronic beat throughout. It gradually penetrates your mind, and you don’t really know what it […]
Pop-Rock/Review Slim Loris – Stoic
Slim Loris start “Stoic” off with a familiar yet new sound. It’s a continuation of the previous decades, yet it’s very much in the here and now. There is a good sense of movement from the very beginning. The song appears to have a clear direction and begins to develop towards it immediately. The verses are intimate and personal, as […]
ROCK/Review Michael Vdelli And The Art Of Dysfunction – You And The Blues
Michael Vdelli and the Art of Dysfunction start “You And The Blues” at a slow pace as opposed to a fast one. The guitar is the lead instrument, and it’s calm and detailed, holding onto each note just a little longer than you would expect. You can hear the weight it has long before the vocals begin. I think the […]