Browsing Tag

Concept Album

Speaker Cabinets unleashed euphonically augmented sci-fi escapism in their alt-indie sophomore LP, Tales from New Babel

For their sophomore LP, the Barcelona trio Speaker Cabinets spun ‘Tales from New Babel’ over an indie aesthetic that will ricochet you right back to the 00s alt-indie rock era with reminiscences of Kasabian, The Futureheads, and The Courteeners.

With an additional layer of Euro folk in the opening single, Ghost Town, there will be little deliberation as to whether Speaker Cabinets stamped down a distinctive sonic signature within the anthemics of their dance-worthy and constraintlessly daring concept EP. When you’re not ensnared in the hooks, you’ll be immersed in a sci-fi tale of retribution. The standout single, The Fall, is a straight-up space rock attest to the imaginative ingenuity of the powerhouse, who will seemingly go to any mind-altering length to deliver euphonically augmented escapism to their fans.

The band’s electro-heavy sophomore LP was released on October 20 along with a 6-episode podcast, which shares the story of their zany creation. Delve into the sonic sci-fi franchise, you’re unlikely to regret it.

Stream the Speaker Cabinets sophomore LP by heading to Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

History battle cries in Solemn Pledge’s concept EP, Joan of Arc: Savior of France

There are concept EPs, and there are hair-raising sonic manifestos where history battle cries and culture breathes; the recently released EP, Joan of Arc: Savior of France, from Solemn Pledge is at the vanguard in the latter camp.

No matter how much time stands between the legacy of Joan of Arc and our present-day epoch, her trailblazing tale will always leave the imagination alight, as definitively proven by the rock opera retelling from the duo comprising Genevieve Elia and Michael Justin Lee.

In the standout single, To Free France, the classic Iron Maiden-esque rock tones lend themselves viscerally well to the narration of the wrath of Joan of Arc. Elia’s dynamic vocal range effortlessly encapsulates the sheer hell-hath-no-fury resilience of the feminist icon who is revered as one of France’s greatest military heroes, despite her age, gender, and discernible lack of military training.

Stream Joan of Arc: Saviour of France on Spotify now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Evan Veenstra paid homage to the expansive propensities of electric bass on his jazz concept album, featuring the standout soundscape, SANDSTONE

Evan Veenstra

Canadian jazz bassist and composer, Evan Veenstra rocked aphrodisiacal exoticism on the standout single, SANDSTONE, from his 16-track album, BASS. The intuitively experimental album was performed entirely on electric bass; as an exhibition of the seemingly infinite melodic, harmonic, and percussive possibilities.

On paper, BASS could have been the most self-indulgent concept album in the ether. In its vibrant propensity, it carries a sense of spirituality, as though the complex riffs and meditative quiescence were composed in the 5th dimension. How he pulled the blissful accordance of classical Spanish guitar tones out of a bass guitar will always be beyond me.

BASS was officially released on June 26th; hear it here.

Review by Amelia Vandergast