Browsing Tag

70s Pop

Matt Wescott orchestrated a nirvana of honky pop rock euphoria with ‘Run Away with Me’

Posted on 5 October 2023

Matt Wescott’s latest single, Run Away with Me is a proposition no retro pop rock fan could refuse. If Elton John’s Honky Chateau was a little more cosmic, the honky tones would be as interstellar as the chord progressions in this piano-led ode to nostalgia that blasts into the stratosphere of futurism.

The rugged odyssey of an earworm stands as a testament to Wescott’s lifelong immersion in the music industry. Before establishing himself in the digital era of music as a solo artist, Wescott performed in multiple bands that were laudable enough to headline Bristol’s Carling Academy, be lavished in equipment by Wharfdale, receive director’s awards from Paramount, and support Newton Faulkner, Razorlight and Alabama 3.

After reminiscing on the glory days with his father shortly before he passed away, Wescott had the epiphany that life is too short not to do what makes you happy, which has seen him release a string of phenomenal singles that defy indie pop rock expectations and lead listeners into 3-minute nirvanas of honky pop rock euphoria.

Run Away with Me officially released on September 27; stream it on SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Turncoat Billy sang the worn-in blues in their latest indie single, Hand Me Downs

Posted on 14 August 2023

After enamouring us with their psychedelically vintage single, Kaleidoscope, the Tottenham-hailing prodigal sons of indie rock nostalgia, Turncoat Billy, are back on our radar once again with a definitively infectious sound that carries all of the feel-good grooves of a Ray Charles hit single.

The jaunty honkytonk piano keys stab their way through the theatrical flair of their brass-infused cosy new single, Hand Me Downs, which boasts swathes of 70s pop swagger and evidence that Turncoat Billy is no longer the band equivalent of the girl next door.

It is safe to say they’ve come into their stride, and wherever they go from here, we will be keen to follow, especially if their singles continue to run in the same quirkily romantic and self-deprecating vein as Hand Me Downs.

Hand Me Downs will officially release on August 14; stream it on SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Go ‘Downtown’ and Grab Some Sonic Serotonin with Blunt Objects’ Latest Kitschy Indie Pop Release

Posted on 8 February 2023

‘Downtown’ is the latest zanily artsy indie pop release from the authentic-by-design artist Blunt Objects. As society becomes increasingly more insular and reliant on digital connection, the mastermind behind the alternative project, Bill Owens, reminds us of the beauty in community.

With a similar lyrical theme to Petula Clark’s Downtown, Blunt Object ensured he made his instrumental mark with the kitschy amalgam of eccentric electro motifs and real instruments to create his classic-form pop track, which comes with a touch of Michael Stipe magic to the vocal lines. Thick with 70s nostalgia and touched with disco fever, Downtempo is an undeniable opportunity to grab some sonic serotonin.

Downtown is now available to stream on SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Lyfe created a disco fever endemic with the euphoric soul in his latest funk-pop single, Tonight

Posted on 16 December 2022

For his latest single, Tonight, the up-and-coming artist, Lyfe, served a potent cocktail of pop, funk, disco, and soul. Rather than evoking nostalgia from one era, the artist, who is dominating more and more of the metaverse with every subsequent release, simultaneously took us to the 60s, 70s and 80s in a dizzying feat of sonic time travel.

While you time-hop through the funk-chopped guitars, glistening piano glissandos and heady four-to-the-floor beat, Lyfe creates collaborative alchemy with the celestially timbered backing vocalists who pour a profound level of euphoric soul into the feverish with disco track.

Each song from Lyfe’s 20-track debut album has its own virtual world in the Metaverse. Before the debut LP, Lyfe founded YXY ODY Studios to create a series of NFT drops and The Odyssey Metaverse. He also deployed one of the biggest virtual concerts yet, with over 40,000 attendees.

Watch this space because Lyfe is about to revolutionise it.

Tonight will officially release on December 16th. Check it out on his official website.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Country hooks up with 70s cosmic pop in Marcus Liuzzi’s latest single, 2 Night Stand

Posted on 4 February 2022

Country meets 70s cosmic pop in the Massachusetts-hailing singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Marcus Liuzzi’s latest single, 2 Night Stand.

The deeply candid and narrative track spins the whiskey-soaked tale of a hook-up that left the hook firmly embedded itself far beyond the hungover sunrise. If there is any definitive proof that the loss of the object of our lust is as crushing as the loss of love, it is this humbly honest track. It wears its heart on the shimmering guitar progressions, Americana-influenced basslines, psychedelically warm keys, and the occasional orchestral sing motif.

There are hints of R.E.M. in the vocals that rest atop the country twang and influence from ELO, Bowie and the Beatles. Only an insanely talented artist could pull that off in such an endearing fashion. It is safe to say that we are pretty hooked.

You can get down with a 2 Night Stand for yourselves by heading over to Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

The Fullers welcome you to the ‘Unreal City’ with their classical folk single.

Posted on 13 August 2021

The brutalist architecture in the single artwork perfectly captures the bleak tone in the Fullers’ latest semi-orchestral single, Unreal City, which comes with 70s melancholic pop-rock nostalgia and a sorrowful indie post-punk edge.

The Fullers have been in formation since 2018; they garnered the attention of BBC Surrey and Essex before transforming their rock sound to make the most of songwriter Peter Neilan’s classical training. The evolution in their sound allows classical motifs to coalesce with folk elements; any fans of Ben Folds will want to pay attention.

Unreal City was officially released on August 13th; you can check it out for yourselves by heading over to SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

SVRPoole get over their fear of rejection with ‘Dusted Artist’

Posted on 18 May 2021

SVRPoole · Dusted Artist

Pop-folk as a concept might sound like it takes a bit of explaining, but that’s what we’ve got here with acoustic singer-songwriting duo SVRPoole; a mix of early Fleetwood Mac, June Carter, ABBA, and Steeleye Span. It’s a cute little mix, vocalist and guitarist Simona-Valentina’s high resonance, Angel Olsen-like vocal underpinned by some frankly delicious slide guitar work and ballady brushed drum-and-tambourine patterns.

Lyrically, this is a song for mistakes, misshapes, and misfits, or anyone who feels stigmatised, rejected, or otherwise discriminated against. Written originally as a poem for Simona-Valentina’s sister, it’s gentle, it’s quirky, it’s got a bit of a boho indie vibe going on amongst the folk-country-ish tinges, and the lilting chorus vocal is irretrievably hummable.

You can hear ‘Dusted Artist’ on Soundcloud. Follow SVRPoole on Facebook.

Review by Alex Holmes

Lance Houck swings back to the 60s with their single ‘With All My Heart’

Posted on 1 January 2021

https://lancehouck.bandcamp.com/track/with-all-my-heart

Upbeat, poppy, light and airy, with a distinct sixties/seventies vibe, carried in on a wave of woo-hoo-hoos and jingly clean guitar, comes ‘With All My Heart’, the new single from Californian singer-songwriter Lance Houck. Sunny, uplifting, and full of those happy West Coast vibes, ‘With All My Heart’, from Houck’s seven-track album ‘Unborn’, is a gem of a single, catchy, vibey, with as-you-might-expect elements of the Beach Boys, Jan and Dean, and The Lovin’ Spoonful.

There’s some nice guitar work too, Houck playing all instruments as well as taking on vocal duties, pushy drums, and a cute little rolling bassline, Houck’s vocal is well-delivered and tuneful, the track overall a proper little summery ear-worm which might be a nice little antidote to current UK Tier 4 Lockdown restrictions.

You can hear ‘With All My Heart’ on Bandcamp, and follow Lance Houck on Facebook.

Review by Alex Holmes

Ashley James takes us back to the 70s with their Pop ballad “Take Your Time”

Posted on 6 November 2020

Ashley James may not be a well-known name (yet), but any fans of 00’s Indie Rock should be familiar with their previous outfit Likely Lads who received rapturous acclaim for their brutally honest lyrical style.

Now, Ashley James has gone solo, and we’re seeing a more soulful side to the artist’s multifaceted talents. With a touch of aural nostalgia and lashings of laceratingly raw emotion, their debut single “Take Your Time” was born.

The 70s-inspired Pop ballad is sure to be a hit with any fans of Rod Stewart and Elton John or any Pop fans who are looking to lock into sincerity, pitch-perfect harmony, and melodic alchemy.

You can check out the official video to Take Your Time via Instagram.

Review by Amelia Vandergast