Browsing Tag

Alt Indie Folk

Jessamine Barham – Marching On: A Sanity-Preservation Playlist Staple

Posted on 17 October 2020

After the release of her second album, there’s never been a better time to indulge in Jessamine Barham’s captivatingly devastating Alt-Indie Folk Pop sound.

The perfect introduction to her melancholically arrestive style is “Marching On” which compassionately addresses the very real fact that globally, we’re suffering from a loss of faith. Not just in a religious sense, but a loss of faith in our futures, ourselves, our leaders. The list is endless, but, as Jessamine Barham so poignantly alludes in this haunting release, it’s not easy to pull yourself out of a depressive hole, but that doesn’t mean that it is an impossibility for you to see more than just futility.

This track isn’t for the fainthearted. The directness of it may rub some salt in the wound, but just as with that tired old analogy, the salt (track) can heal after it stings.

I don’t make a habit of expressing personal gratitude in my reviews, but Jessamine Barham deserves so much more than fancy adjectives, she deserves recognition for this truly priceless record, for how candidly she approached the lyrics, for how cathartically resolving the soundscape became. So, thank you.

You can check out Marching On by heading over to YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Mark Ramsey – January Rough Times: Tenderly Intimate Indie

Posted on 30 August 2020
https://ramsey.bandcamp.com/track/january-rough-times-2

Rhode Island Indie Alt Rock artist Mark Ramsey released their accordantly pensive single “January Rough Times” on August 21st and left us seriously bruised by the contrast of ethereally atmospheric instrumentals and their softly morose vocals gently finding synergy.

Is it blasphemy to say that Mark Ramsey’s semi-orchestral single may even be more viscerally captivating than Elliot Smith’s haunting singles? Probably, but I’d take the risk of a stoning to pay a fitting ode to the tender soundscape which becomes more intimate with every listen.

Every lyrical line draws you into the narrative deftly set up by Mark Ramsey. You’d have to entirely void of empathy not to be stung by poetic lyricism such as “You’re starting to sleep through the night, I’m starting to think that you missed the point and now there’s no telling what’s right but let’s not pretend it wasn’t your choice”.

January Rough Times is available to stream on all major platforms via this link.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

René Le Feuvre has infused sincerity and serenity on the airwaves with “Whispers and Whistles”

Posted on 24 August 2020

Whispers & Whistles is the 5th single to be released by Alt Indie Folk Pop artist René Le Feuvre. The serenely comforting soundscape stands as a testament to the Australian artist’s matured and organic nuanced sound.

They may draw influence from the likes of Ben Howard and Ed Sheeran, but there’s nothing assimilative about Whispers and Whistles. It’s a sticky-sweet ambient earworm which was served straight from the soul.

With some artists, music is just something they do. While with artists like René Le Feuvre, you can tell it’s who they are. Their soulful melodic abilities are as much of a part of them as the blood the passion runs in.

Whispers & Whistles is available to stream via Spotify now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Pete invites us to find comfort in uncertainty with their latest single “I Don’t Know”

Posted on 22 August 2020
https://peteymacd.com/track/2347032/i-don-t-know-love-again

“Can I love again?” is one of the most soul-crushing questions we can ask ourselves. Up and coming Indie artist Pete used that agonising precariousness and conjecture to create their latest single “I Don’t Know (Love Again).

Some days leave us with more questions than answers. this sublimely mellifluous single is a soothing reminder that absence of certainty doesn’t always need to be synonymous with misery.

The grooving Indie Folk Pop track has Jack Johnson-vibes to offer, along with a smorgasbord of Pete’s own authentic style which brings plenty of accordantly melodic soul to the soundscape.

With the vibrantly warm tone of the track, it’s impossible to entertain any cynical absolutist thoughts about the future. If you’re in a relationship, put it on your playlists. Just in case.

You can listen to I Don’t Know yourselves here.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

California indie rock duo The Mulroys stimulate sadness with excellent ”I Don’t Want To Do This”

Posted on 18 June 2020
Splitsville by The Mulroys

With electrically shocked memories of previous relationships that ended like a beautiful summer. You sit back and remember the good times to see if they out way the bad elements. Like a skater falling off their board, you can’t stay on the ramp all the time. Sometimes, you know that you can’t do this for a minute further.

Formally known as Rollers, Singer-songwriter Erik Mullin and guitarist-songwriter TJ Royer are a formidable duo as The Mulroys and this new track is taken off 2020’s first full length album called Splitsville. Recorded at Tiny Telephone Studios in San Francisco and Oakland, this is a band to turn up loud. They wanted something extra so grabbed good friend and veteran rocker Mark Maiggard from Louis XIV on drums and Michigan’s own Chris Diener as bassist for the recording. You can hear the extra grand touch on ”I Don’t Want To Do This”.

The Mulroys exude confidence and have a blues tingled indie rock style that is a pleasure to listen to. On their new single ”I Don’t Want To Do This” the duo are on top form. The vocals are smooth and the guitar background creates a warm feeling despite the sad topic. This is older Americana Kings Of Leon vibes soaked with some warm Californian sunshine.

Head to Bandcamp for this terrific single from the US band with lots to offer.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Tullara has released her cathartically connectable Alt Pop Rock Earworm “16 Seconds”

Posted on 17 May 2020

Breaking Australian artist Tullara found the perfect balance between inviting accessibility and authentic ingenuity with her single 16 Seconds which was released on May 8th.

The reflectively moody tone in the Alt Rock single proved to be a synergetic pairing for Tullara’s understated yet profoundly resonant vocals. It’s not all too often that you’ll find nuances of pop alongside lyrics which speak to the human condition. But 16 uses Pop-laced melodies to create a mesmeric platform for the lyrics which allude to in-betweenness. I’m sure more people understand that feeling now more than ever.

It’s safe to say that 16 Seconds was the most cathartically connectable perennial Pop earworm we’ve heard this year so far. If she’s not already on it, get her on your radar. She’s undoubtedly one to watch.

You can check out 16 Seconds for yourselves via Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Thrown Together – Fields and Water: Ambient Alt Indie

Posted on 24 March 2020

If you’re as aurally sensitive as me, you may want to brace yourself before hitting play on the sublimely transfixing latest single from Alternative artist Thrown Together. Its an all too accessible interplay of melancholy and sticky-sweet soul.

If Elliot Smith had a penchant for inventive guitar effects, then I can imagine his tracks would have shared the same experimentally beguiling appeal as Thrown Together’s latest single “Fields and Water”.

Even more impressively, Thrown Together stayed true to their name and orchestrated the single on GarageBand. The accordance in the melodies wouldn’t give you any clues that Fields and Water is such a DIY production. Instead, the masterfully-produced single stands the perfect testament to the artist’s talent when it comes to creating tranquilly expressive soundscapes.

You can check out Fields and Water for yourselves by heading over to SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Moses Mikheyev – Somewhere in My Blood: Timelessly Mesmeric Indie Folk Rock

Posted on 23 March 2020

Any fans of Frightened Rabbit and the National will undoubtedly appreciate Moses Mikheyev’s modern stylistic approach to Indie Folk Rock in their latest single.

Their 5th single “Somewhere in My Blood” unapologetically bares their soul and invites you to get in touch with your own.

There’s the same timeless mesmerism as offered by pioneers such as Cohen, Waits, and Elliott Smith in Somewhere in My Blood. Yet, Moses Mikheyev endeavouring to pull the cathartically warm tones into the 21st century definitely paid off. As did the added tantalizing sensuous appeal.

The only thing uncomfortable about this track is the lump which will form in your throat as you drink in the humbly candid lyrics which sit synergistically against the porously reflective acoustic melodies.

You can listen to the romantically-rendered, resonantly captivating single for yourselves by heading over to Spotify now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

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Mock Deer – Your Open Heart: Transfixingly Crushing, Cinematically Resonant Alt Indie Folk

Posted on 17 February 2020

“Your Open Heart” is one of the captivating singles found on the latest release “The Art of Loneliness” from London-based Alt Indie Folk artist Mock Deer.

Forget lyrical or instrumental hooks, the prelude offers an instantaneous sharp emotional hook which will great any fan of American Alt Folk with a familiar lacerating sting. With each progression, you’re drawn further into the striking resonance which pools around the creeping ethereal reverb and gently melancholic pensive notes.

Mock Deer is exactly the kind of artist you can hit play on for the first time and form an “I immediately need to buy all of their records” obsession – especially if you are a Paul Simon or REM fan. Despite the raw existential emotion projected into Your Open Heart, there’s the faintest hint of romantic optimism amongst the perfectly weighted commentary on 21st-century alienation and fear. It is transfixing, crushing, uplifting and transcendent all in equal measure.

You can check out Your Open Heart for yourselves via SoundCloud. Or you can grab a vinyl or CD copy via Rough Trade.

Keep up to date with the latest releases from Mock Deer via Facebook.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Vincent Lima – Albany: Deep Cavernous Indie Folk Rock

Posted on 27 January 2020

Award-Winning musician Vincent Lima has released yet another resoundingly raw single with “Albany”. Any fans of the darkly alluring mesmerism of Tom Waits and Richard Hawley are going to want to jump on the singer songwriter’s first release in 2020.

There’s a unique tenderness to Albany, it’s rare for tenderness to accompany deep cavernously evocative tonality, but Vincent Lima has proven that the aural elements make for a potently alchemic mix. If you could imagine what it would sound like if Bill Ryder-Jones and Nick Cave collaborated together, you may get an idea of what Albany has to offer.

Yet, the distinction truly lies in the singer songwriter’s ability to lace the soundscape with a brand-new contemporary resonance through the infusion of nuancedly melancholic Pop.

The pensively deep quivering notes against the deep reverberance of Vincent Lima’s vocals in a cinematic production is something we’ll never forget. And we’re pretty sure that you won’t either.

You can listen to Albany for yourselves by heading over to Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast