Browsing Tag

Gary Numan

The Drood protested the idiomatically sentimental in their post-industrial single, Psychic Institute

Denver Colorado’s most mindfully experimental duo, The Drood, have unleashed their latest single, Psychic Institute, which is a little dancier than the last time we heard the psychedelically inclined post-industrial mystics, but it more than hits the existential spot.

Lyrically, Psychic Institute derides the innate human tendency to sentimentalize everything while the vocals pay homage to one of The Drood’s main influences, Gary Numan and the glitchy, robotically hook-filled instrumentals ensure that your rhythmic pulses are well entwined with the cathartic furore.

Dark and dystopic music is one thing; bringing a sense of subversive spirituality to it that speaks to the soul is another thing entirely. I never thought that anyone would share the same visceral reaction to vapid sentimentality, but with the mindful scepticism and philosophised despair, the Drood is an intellectual cut above the rest.

We may not have seen Psychic Institute coming, but now that it is here, we’re endlessly gratified for the escapism it offers. If you aurally follow any artist through the impending apocalypse, make it the Drood.

Here’s what The Drood had to say on their latest release:

“We didn’t set out with the intention to write a dance song, but that’s what came out! Psychic Institute unintentionally evolved into an homage to the industrial music which shaped our musical proclivities. The lyrical message, if any, is a cautionary tale about the emptiness and transparency of foolish sentimentality.”

Check out the official music video for Psychic Institute via YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

 

Swedish pop pioneers Laptop Singers have launched their latest single, ‘The Lonely One’.

Swedish pop pioneers Laptop Singers have launched their latest interstellar electropop hit, The Lonely One. Fans of Kraftwerk, Eno and Numan are going to want to delve into the synth-carved playful single that explores isolation in a compassionately sweet way. Hitting play is a sure-fire way to top up your serotonin.

With a sticky-sweet mix of synthesised pop, rock and electronica, the familial duo, Per Andersson and Lars Andersson, constructed a delectable smorgasbord for the tonal palette. Yet, discernibly, they came into their own through their meaningful lyrics that instil event more infectious appeal into The Lonely One instead of abstracting the euphorically-laced catharsis.

The Lonely One is now available to stream via Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Harbor Gents – Twisted: Funk-Fuelled Alt Synth Pop

There are very few breaking Pop artists who can match the instantly magnetic ingenuity in Harbor Gents’ latest single Twisted.

Through soul-spilling lyrics, evocatively resonant vocals and the layers of Funk, Hip Hop, and Avant-Garde added to the Synth lines, you’ve never quite heard a Pop track like Twisted before.

Despite the striking distinction which drips from Twisted, Harbor Gents ensured that the accessibility wasn’t diminished, the deftly crafted melodies will stick to your synapses like superglue.

Any fans of Gary Numan, Kraftwerk and Depeche Mode will undoubtedly want to give this perennial Pop earworm plenty of attention. The Latvian artist is definitely one to watch. It isn’t every day that we discover an artist who creates a brand-new trajectory in the evolution of Pop.

You can check out Harbor Gents’ single Twisted for yourselves by heading over to YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Paul Iwan releases Returning (both singles): Alternative Rock at it’s finest

https://soundcloud.com/paul_iwan/sets/returning-both-singles/s-Oc6yg

Paul Iwan has released his latest two singles ‘Returning (Red Version) and Returning (Blue Version)’ giving you nothing but pure Alternative Rock, it’s pretty magical.

If you’re a fan of bands like 30 Seconds to Mars then this is one you must delve into. Having them same powerful raspy vocals and not to mention the heavy instrumentation and the manic breakdowns that take place throughout.

Bringing in the thunderous riffs on the electric guitar and the powerful drum beats. Having that rather eerie sound as the vocals begin to echo and the instrumentation begins to lower as the atmosphere begins to get less suspenseful, the vocals go a lot more mellow as the tracks come to an end.

Paul has created two incredible alternative rock hits, both the same but in sung in such diverse sounds, one is more stripped back and the other has a lot of added in effects and overpowering instrumentals.

Check out Paul Iwan’s latest tracks by heading over to Spotify.

Review by Karley Myall

Centric – The Fifth Dimension: Pure Unadulterated Progressive Sound

The Virginia based band Centric are an absolute analogue dream. Their track The Fifth Dimension was released in October 2017 but they’re worthy of a throwback review of their genius approach to music. It truly is a crime that Centric still lingers on the underground music scene,

Centric’s music has all of the synthesised delight of Depeche Mode, Gary Numan and Shiny Toy Guns with a delectably soft Industrial EBM sound. Their futuristic sound provides a tranquil yet lucidly progressive aura. It’s expertly orchestrated with an innovative sound that’s pushed through each beat to provide you with a myriad of emotions as the track runs through its 5 minute duration. Centric’s other tracks such as Heartlead and Telluride provide much more of a synthesised grungy sound not too dissimilar from bands such as the Editors. Bands such as Centric prove that Grunge and soft rock have an Infinite Malleability, and their elemental influence can be revelled in in a plethora of other genres.

If this hit dropped on a dancefloor, I have no doubt in my mind that the crowd would be immersed in its euphoria. Their tracks retain an upbeat sound that’s highly resonant and provides a sea of soundwaves for you to sink into as your mind expands in time with the melody.

Check out their single which you can download for FREE on the BandCamp page using the link below!

https://centric.bandcamp.com/track/the-fifth-dimension