Browsing Tag

Alt Indie Pop

Madeleine Bradford has released her celestially striking single, Resting Bones.

Posted on 31 May 2021

Resting Bones is the celestially transfixing latest single from US singer-songwriter Madeleine Bradford. At the age of 17-years-old, her music already boasts narratively-meta lyrics, arresting vocal harmonies and a spiritual edge that compels you to lean even deeper into the single to abstract the emotion and introspection. Even the silence that follows the outro is resounding.

If anyone has what it takes to become the next Phoebe Bridgers while establishing themselves with a distinctive style, it is Madeleine Bradford. The mellifluous guitars in Resting Bones possess the same level of alchemy that you will find in Elliot Smith’s most intricate releases as faint orchestral swells add striking crescendos to the deeply provoking single.

Resting Bones is now available to stream via Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Naked Face are ‘Coming Home’ with their ephemeral indie-pop single

Posted on 27 April 2021

Dreamy, ephemeral indie-pop with little dashes of post-post-punk – that’s the initial impression from first-listen of Melbourne-based Naked Face’s new single ‘Coming Home’, but on subsequent plays it’s clear the Australian three-piece have a lot more tricks up their collective sleeves and significantly more musical depth and character than that early, overly-simple description gives them credit for.

There’s elements of chilled Caribbean and even reggae to the chord work and arrangement of the verses, contrasting nicely with the bigger, chuggier power-chord overdrive of the choruses on ‘Coming Home’, singer Eddy Seagoon’s unique vocal delivery and delicately-picked guitar lines adding superbly to the tight groove of the rhythm section of Steve Slik and Nathan Stone, mashing-up a mixture of pop, punk, funk, jazzy chord voicings, and musical elements of The Police, the Young Knives, and Bloc Party amongst the audio influences here. It’s catchy and melodic, mixing in lyrical themes of isolation, social alienation, and distance whilst at the same time fusing a tight, focussed delivery and pumping out something that’s ultimately poppy, catchy, and delectable.

You can hear ‘Coming Home’ on Spotify, or check out the official video on YouTube. Follow Naked Face on Facebook or here.

Review by Alex Holmes

Danni Jackson opens up on ‘Too Much’

Posted on 7 March 2021

Opening up with some gentle picked electric guitar before the vocal and full-on musical arrangement kicks in, ‘Too Much’ is a perfect pop song, a mix of modern dance-able R&B with some older indie-rock stylings and a clever little set of pop sensibilities.

Recognisable from Comedy Central’s ‘Bad Cramps’ (which she writes and stars in), ‘Too Much’ is the follow-up to Jackson’s 2016 debut EP which included the BBC Introducing ‘track of the day’ ‘We Ain’t Got Love’. ‘Too Much’ is an honest, truthful first-person narrative on the problems of mental health, social pressure, and body image, an empathetic and open storytelling vibe in the style of Lily Allen or Anne-Marie, with maybe a little of the bounce and groove of Fergie thrown in for good measure. It’s fresh, vulnerable, and uplifting all at once.

Check out ‘Too Much’ on Spotify; follow Danni Jackson on Facebook and Instagram.

Review by Alex Holmes

In this moment forever: The First Impression fly gloriously above the clouds on the remarkable ‘Wishing Moments’

Posted on 25 February 2021

With their stunning vocals delivered with a classy appeal that opens up those sleepy eyes widely, The First Impression dream vividly of the future on the heart-stopping ‘Wishing Moments‘.

Tremendous Las Vegas, Nevada indie-pop act The First Impression, fluidly assemble that uplifting type of sensual music that grabs at your beating heart and pulls you closer to see more, their wondrous vocals have an exhilarating effect on you that is unexpected and hugely satisfying on your hungry palate.

Their vocals form as one on a sumptuous beat, you feel like you are flying happily in the moon-lit sky and looking into the striking eyes of a caring lover who you wish could stay next to you forever, your eyes are interlocked and you feel like you are stuck in time, floating in a happy state of ultimate bliss.

‘Wishing Moments‘ from the underrated Las Vegas, Nevada group The First Impression, certainly delivers on the aesthetic quality and you feel like you have heard a special song, that won’t easily be forgotten. They sing with such freedom and love as it propels you through all doubts up into the skies above, with that special one close by you, to help you through it all.

First impressions certainly matter and this is a track that gives you hope throughout all the current suffering. It feels like after a long hiatus, this is a sleeping lion that has reawakened and is ready to roar loudly again.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Emma Hunter formidably extended the conversation around domestic violence with ‘Here I Go’

Posted on 13 February 2021

Singer-songwriter, Emma Hunter, has been the voice of popular Oxford-based bands such as AmberState and the Halycons, and since 2019, she’s worked alongside drummer, Tom Bruce, putting her own formidable spin on alt-indie-pop.

With vocals which pull you in with the same strength as Florence Welch’s or Marina and the Diamonds’ coalescing with instrumentals which veer from mainstream archetypes while retaining all of the commercial potential, it’s impossible not to become consumed by her viscerally poignant releases. The single which caught our attention and refused to let go was her latest single, ‘Here I Go’, which demonstrates how seriously Emma Hunter takes her responsibility of creating light from the dark.

Here I Go artfully extended the conversation around domestic violence by a perspective-shifting length. It exhibited the weakness of perpetrators compared to that of survivors who have been psychologically crushed or physically abused by ‘romantic’ partners. For the first time as I watched the nuanced video unfold, I contemplated the unlikelihood of abusers being able to endure what a victim does, concluding that intimidation through power is the ultimate form of weakness.

With lead guitar tones which insidiously creep throughout the soundscape, the trepidation leaves you transfixed from start to finish, it’s a track which keeps your breath bated until long after the prelude. I honestly couldn’t have more respect or admiration for Emma Hunter and her classy controversial sound.

The official video to Here I Go is available to stream via YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Is It Safeway or Woolworths? Only The Gaffs really know.

Posted on 21 December 2020

It would be oh too easy to dismiss The Gaffs’ ‘Is It Safeway Or Woolworths?’ as one more in a long line of dreaded ‘novelty singles’, but that would totally disservice the superbly crafted chorus hook, exquisite guitar work, and the obvious quality of the song-writing and musicianship here. Insanely catchy and sing-along, beneath the gonzo lyrics is a solid indie-pop song, reminiscent in place of the Kings Of Leon’s ‘Sex On Fire’ or, just maybe, Sultans Of Ping FC’s ‘Where’s Me Jumper?’.

The Gaffs cite themselves as ‘some of the greatest thinkers of their time and are willing to ask the big questions around consciousness, existentialism and the difference between Safeway and Woolworths’. While that may be pushing it, they’re certainly a quality indie-pop band, and ‘Is It Safeway Or Woolworths’ is definitely a quality pop tune.

Check out the video for ‘Is It Safeway Or Woolworths’ on YouTube, and follow The Gaffs on Facebook.

Review by Alex Holmes

Dennyiah have seared the airwaves with their fiery Indie Pop debut album “Human Aspect”

Posted on 15 November 2020

Indie Slovak-based Pop duo Dennyiah have released their lockdown-born debut album, Human Aspect. It would be no exaggeration to say it is one of the most viscerally pioneering albums to drop this year.

The authenticity is only matched by the artist’s ability to utterly consume your consciousness through the sheer intensity of the sound. If you’re anything like me, you’ll have found any discernible emotion hard to come by over recent months. I think I practically overdosed hitting play on Dennyiah’s debut album.

The potency of the emotion carried in the vocal notes is overwhelming from the start. There are some Florence Welch reminiscences within the high notes, but then raw vocal power which parallels the likes of Cyrus while emitting the same evocative magnetism as Sharon Van Etten kicks in. Don’t be surprised if you’re choking back the tears listening to these succinctly colossal singles run through.

With Grammy-award-winning artists such as violinist Adam Baldych joining the collective of instrumentalists who contributed to the track which was mastered by Dave McNair (Bowie, Springsteen, Hole and Maroon 5), it’s no great surprise that Human Aspect borders on the celestial while offering promising modernity.

You can check out Human Aspect for yourselves by heading over to Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Love Angeles – Invincible: A Sticky-Sweet Earworm Which Grabs You and Refuses To Let Go

Posted on 13 September 2020

Straight off the bat, Love Angeles’ massive new Indie Pop hit “Invincible” grabs you and utterly refuses to let go.

All too often, tracks with titles such as ‘Invincible’ can seem trite before you even hit play, but Love Angeles offers the sincerity that the Pop genre has been crying out for. As the high-octane electric hit courses through its progressions, you can expect to feel some pretty intense fuzzy feelings, you might also feel a little in awe of the delectable smorgasbord of stylistic prowess on offer in Invincible. Rock and Pop perfectly entwine to create a universally enticing to record. I can’t help but feel a little excited about what comes next.

You can check out Invincible for yourselves by heading over to Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Britpop melodies with The Shop Window on ”Evacuate”

Posted on 10 August 2020

The Shop Window from the UK are here with their latest single and it’s a real winner called ”Evacuate”.

This new track from the British boys is all about getting away from this crazy world with that special soul. You just want to break away and get up in the sky, heading far away from the madness on earth.

The Shop Window have an indie-pop kind of feel to them and are certainly a pleasure to put up on full volume. They have a rhythmical style about them and you can’t but help notice their Britpop vibe. This is a top quality act that impress on this catchy track.

The new song is taken off debut album ”The State Of Being Human” which has just recently been completed at Raffer Studios in Kent. With a splendid sound, we can look forward to a huge release from this top UK band.

Watch the video ahead of the release on the 14th August on YouTube.

Find out more about the band here on their Facebook.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

David Wakeling returns with brilliant ”Stolen Moments, Borrowed Time”

Posted on 21 July 2020

David Wakeling is a singer-songwriter from Portland in Oregon. He is a full time physician and his music allows him to escape the crazy world for a while. He is back with his new song ”Stolen Moments, Borrowed Time”.

This is an Original retro synth 80’s pop track written and filmed at David’s home during the wild Covid isolation times. The song is perfect for these times as it reminds us all that we are on borrowed time and need to make the most of it.

”Stolen Moments, Borrowed Time” is a lovely song from sushi fan David Wakeling and this humble man who donates all of his music earnings to charity has given us a magical song that is so full of love.

The Portland singer-songwriter with a heart of gold is a terrific listen as he reminds us of being present in life. After 11 albums in his collection to date, David is a sucker for harmonies and a good story. He hope to convey those elements in his music.

Stream this new track right here on YouTube.

Find out more right here on his website.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen