Browsing Tag

acoustic

Paul M Cox soothes through sepia tones in his acoustic single, Silver and Gold

Silver and Gold is the first single from the UK singer-songwriter Paul M Cox’s hotly-anticipated 2022 album, Sunset Over Stillwater. It acoustically pulls together Bowie-Esque production, Waits-y lyricism and the vocal gravitas of Cohen. To melodiously entrancing effect.

The sepia-tinged acoustic serenade which bleeds nuances of blues and jazz in the instrumentals is a masterfully produced work that needed little more than Paul M Cox’s stellar songwriting capacities to draw you into the detailed narrative tapestry that is rich with poetic imagery.

The official lyric video premiered on October 7th. Check it out on YouTube and find out more on Paul M Cox’s official website.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Emmett McGrath brought light to the darkened world with his acoustic single, Little Guy

What does it mean to be human in perpetually unprecedented times? You will get a pretty good idea by hitting play on the latest single, Little Guy, by the San Francisco, Bay Area singer-songwriter Emmett McGrath.

The single, inspired by his grandson, captures the necessity and fundamental nature of love as a light in a darkened world. To be honest, I was already tearing up with the single synopsis, when I heard the gentle Cat Stevens-Esque melodicism of the acoustic guitar and his reassuringly gentle vocal timbre, I was emotionally floored.

Emmett McGrath is more than worth his weight in gold in times like these. The pandemic may be behind us, but with the threat of societal precariousness in every news segment, he’s a breath of fresh optimistic air in an atmosphere stifled with anxiety.

Little Guy is now available to stream on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Escape in the roots of Drew Peterson’s Americana folk single, Duck

With the quirky intensity of Neutral Milk Hotel and the bluegrass crooning of Tom Waits, we couldn’t help succumbing to the soul in Drew Peterson’s album, St. Jude, A Duck and the Crooked Line.

The opening single, Duck, is a narratively escapist Midwest adventure from the independent roots singer-songwriter who has been twanging acoustic strings and entertaining rowdy bars on the Minnesota scene for over two decades. The softly gruff vocals work their way through the dry humour in the lyrics over the minimalist production, consisting of little more than accordion and strings. But that is all Peterson needed to sonically consume you with the endearingly titled, Duck.

Check out Drew Peterson’s debut solo album via his official website and Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Tara C Taylor feels the electric energy from the sweaty crowd on, ‘Love Machine’

Looking into those crystal blue eyes that have her attention firmly inside the soul of that sweet lover who makes her heart shudder excitedly, Tara C Taylor returns with a steamy song that feels like is from another era and is called, ‘Love Machine‘.

Tara C Taylor is a Winnipeg, Canada-born indie electronic/acoustic singer-songwriter who is currently residing in bustling Berlin, Germany, and sings with that extra exuberance you are only born with.

Tara’s songs tell stories about lust & love, politics and the many journeys in life.” ~ Tara C Taylor

At her passionate best and seducing the airwaves with her sultry vocals, Tara C Taylor sends a supreme shockwave through our shaking vertebrae and doesn’t stop entertaining with an electric display.

Love Machine‘ from ’80s fused Canadian indie singer-songwriter Tara C Taylor is one of those romantic sizzlers that gets you into the mood to look deep into the eyes of that special human you feel is right for you. Sung with her trademark class and a soothing aura that sends your mind into a romantic place, this is a breathtaking display made with a real edge.

If you’re after a song that alters your mood and gets you thinking deeply about that intended love who you have your eye on, this is definitely the track for you to play loud and proud.

Listen up to this new single on Spotify and see more on the IG music page.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Moni Grace revives an icon in her single, Marilyn Monroe

Moni Grace

Boston, MA Singer-songwriter, Moni Grace’s latest single, Marilyn Monroe, is a visceral outpour of cinematically raw emotion. After a sampled interview with Marilyn as an intro, Moni Grace’s evocatively porous acoustic strings start to ring before being followed by her distinctive vocal timbre that contrasts the instrumental accordance. Instead of hiding behind effects and allowing her vocal lines to fall in line with everyone else’s, Moni Grace chose the stridently authentic approach, making her confrontationally raw lyrics bruise that little bit harder. Notably, Marilyn isn’t the only icon in Moni Grace’s latest single. We can’t wait to hear what follows.

Marilyn Monroe will officially release on April 15th. You can check it out for yourselves via SoundCloud and Bandcamp.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

KillerMiracle has released their grungy acoustic rock ballad, Dreamcatcher.

For any fans of Soul Asylum’s pensive side, KillerMiracle’s acoustic rock ballad Dreamcatcher is a must-experience sonic slice of raw emotion. The easy acoustic guitar chords paired with the hard melancholy is an intoxicatingly cathartic mix.

The mournful lyricism is served through hazily scorned whiskey-soaked vocals against the almost cinematic instrumental score that goes far beyond your average rugged and rough rock ballad. There’s so much poise within the intensity of Dreamcatcher; KillerMiracle’s matured songwriting style is a breath of fresh air on the airwaves. We can’t wait to hear how he follows on from this bitter-sweet sophomore release.

Dreamcatcher was officially released on November 25th. You can check it out yourselves by heading over to SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Superbloom stripped back the vintage fuzz to deliver a heartfelt semi-orchestral version of their hit single, Paper & Stone.

After the successful release of their shoegaze-tinged alt 90s track, Paper & Stone, Superbloom released the unexpected but intensely appreciated semi-orchestral acoustic version.

They’ve left the high-octane fuzz by the wayside in the unplugged version to give their intellectual lyrics even more room to breathe in the cinematic track that highlights the impassioned conviction that pours into their expression. It wouldn’t be a stretch to say that the acoustic version of Paper & Stone rivals Corey Taylor’s solo work. Superbloom will only be rated highly enough when they’re topping the alt music charts.

The collective of artists, fronted by North London’s Robert James and Sam Lidington, works alongside producer  Ed Sokolowski. I can’t speak for everyone, but as someone who has never quite gotten over the 90s, you couldn’t ask for a better mix of revival nostalgia and intellectual aural autonomy.

Paper & Stone is due for official release on November 5th. You can check out the official video via YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Foundry Town Survivors bring in the future of indie-folk with their seminal single, Foundry Town.

Foundry Town

Foundry Town Survivors are bringing in the future of indie-folk by going back to the storytelling roots of the genre and incorporating the production nuances from succeeding eras.Their seminal single, Foundry Town, taken from their new 2021 EP, is a world-weary vignette of the small hometowns that may as well be composed of quicksand for the way they bring you down. And yes, I’m aware that sounds a little cliché, but it’s a sentiment plenty can relate to; even if you grew up in a major metropolitan area, you’ll know how it feels by the time the outro in Foundry Town rolls around.

The yearning for something more, something greater rings through in the gruff Cohen-Esque vocals as the versatile strings pull you through bitter-sweet crescendos and swells of optimism that shimmer in the easy acoustic progressions.

Their new EP is due for release on November 5th. It will be available to stream and download on all major platforms. Check out Foundy Town Survivors on their official website. 

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Dave Thomas O’Gorman gives us a taste of The Sweetest Blood in his ethereal indie-folk single.

Dave Thomas O'Gorman

Indie-folk singer-songwriter Dave Thomas O’Gorman’s latest single, The Sweetest Blood, will be accordance to the ears of anyone that finds themselves with a preference for the softer and ethereal side of folk.

It won’t just be his imagination that you will get to enjoy when you press play; his melodies are all too easy to slip into and get lost within while the vocals anchor you into the bitter-sweet sentiment of the affably lovelorn single.

Dave Thomas O’Gorman has exactly what it takes to become the Cat Stevens of this generation with his endlessly consoling melodies and vocals that parallel. After racking up over 1 million streams on YouTube, snagging a spot at Longitude Festival and featuring on BBC, RTÉ Radio 1, Newstalk FM, Radio Nova, FM 104, KCLR FM and Galway Bay FM, we certainly aren’t the only ones hyped by his sound.

The Sweetest Blood officially releases on October 28th. Check it out for yourselves via his official website.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Karyn Ann delivers arcane soul in style in her folk single, ‘Wasting Time’

The Portland-based soulstress, Karyn Ann, released her debut album in 2015; after her sophomore album released in 2018, she started to garner critical acclaim and international airplay for her effortlessly powerful vocals and the emotional depth of her lyricism.

Her latest single, Wasting Time, gracefully captures the collective anxiety around watching the sands of time slip while failing to keep hold of anything that brings intrinsic meaning. After we’ve all endured 18 months of lockdown to some degree, Wasting Time is the perfect playlist staple for anyone seeking a little compassion.

The Americana singer-songwriter’s ability to weave a narrative through emotion, poetry and arrestingly minimal melodies is almost unparalleled. We’re fairly certain that this won’t be the last time that Karyn Ann leaves us mesmerised by her almost arcane sense of soul.

Wasting Time is available to stream on SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast