Browsing Tag

guitar

Aaron Andreu is smoother than smooth in his pop-rock single, Your Eyes Are My Favorite Color

Posted on 8 March 2022

“Your Eyes Are My Favorite Color” is just one of the smoother than smooth singles that feature on the pop-rock charmer Aaron Andreu’s latest EP, Stars Collide.

The gently rhythmic yet angularly arresting guitar melodies that build throughout the fervently passionate single are just as sweet as the track title as they leave you on the hook for the next installation of teasingly timed accordance. It sent me right back to the glory days of the Calling and falling for Billy Idol’s raconteurial affable soul.

Before releasing his debut EP in 2018, the singer-songwriter was sharing stages and writing songs for Grammy-Award winning artists; he carried all that professionalism to the table with the Stars Collide which notably is Grammy-ballot worthy in itself. He’s got the kind of sound sycophants would line round the block for and the sense of soul to make any die-hard romantic fall hard.

Your Eyes Are My Favorite Color is now available to stream on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

We Know What’s Next: Boston singer-songwriter Eliot Dean Baker gives honest advice to a heartbroken soul on ‘Are We Still Dating’

Posted on 22 January 2022

As he tries his best to offer guidance to a truly authentic human that needs to hear the truth before he sinks further underground, Eliot Dean Baker sings with a stunning gusto on his latest single all about querying if that sweet lover will actually wait on ‘Are We Still Dating‘.

Eliot Dean Baker is a Woodbridge, Virginia-born, Nashville, Tennessee-based alt-pop/rock solo artist, Berklee College of Music graduate and music producer, who has had creative melodies flowing in his drum-playing veins since he was just a young boy.

”Multi-talented in singing, songwriting, and playing the guitar, piano, and drums, Eliot considers his biggest influences to be Jimi Hendrix, Prince, John Mayer, Bob Dylan, Sting, Frank Ocean, and Michael Jackson.” ~ Eliot Dean Baker

This is a seriously brilliant track from the classy talent of Eliot Dean Baker – who is surely one of the most underrated artists in the world – as he dazzles on a superb track all about being there for your friend when the chips are down.

‘Are We Still Dating‘ from the highly instinctive Nashville, Tennessee-based alt-pop/rock solo artist and music producer Eliot Dean Baker, is a sterling effort from a truly excellent musician who is clearly at the peak of his powers. With a sincere story about seeing someone who he cares about in so much pain from losing their lover due to distance, this is the warning for anyone going through the same emotional turmoil.

Sung with a scintillating velocity, this is a top effort that will have you in a highly reflective mood as you remember the one that got away.

Hear this new single on Spotify and find out more about his journey via IG.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Spotlight Feature: When Mountains Speak embarks on an abstract journey in their live album, From Beyond Comes Within

Posted on 18 January 2022

Texas’ most spiritual solo artist, When Mountains Speak, has released their latest sonic exploration, From Beyond Comes Within. The live-recorded album was recorded through one microphone – not that the all-consumingly psychedelic and transcendent release will allow you to believe it.

The 12-track album pays an earnest homage to the deep spiritual roots that created the foundation for the tribal and rhythmic soundscapes. Yet with When Mountains Speak’s avant-garde flair slipping in through reverberating hums and electronic glitches, there’s a bold sense of creative playfulness. The kind of playfulness that is reflective of the wonder we found in the world before we grew weary of it.

The extended singles amount to a 1 hour and 52-minute experience. With the tribally magnetic rhythms that marry the East with the West, you couldn’t ask for a better sanctum from the chaos that exists beyond music that awakens spiritual intuition.

From Beyond Comes Within is now available to stream on all major platforms. Check out When Mountains Speak on Spotify or via their official website.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Tim Reynolds & Michael Sokolowski take us on a Soul Pilgrimage with their latest guitar-infused electronica album.

Posted on 10 October 2021

Long-time collaborators Tim Reynolds & Michael Sokolowski have teamed up once more for their guitar & synth duet album, Soul Pilgrimage. The standout symphonic piece, Freighter Hop, carries the dark and ominous textures of post-punk in the ambiently arranged synth lines while the warm bluesy guitar notes transform it into an invigoratingly optimistic soundscape.

If anyone has what it takes to prove that the future of music will be synthesised, it is Tim Reynolds & Michael Sokolowski. Their album was released on August 25th, 2021; it is available to stream on all major platforms; the vinyl release is due on October 31st, 2021.

Stream Freighter Hop for yourselves by heading over to YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Ralph Pezzullo sings the ‘Lockdown Blues’ in his latest single

Posted on 22 May 2021

Plenty of artists have released lockdown-inspired singles, but no one can sing the lockdown blues quite like a blues artist, case in point, Ralph Pezzullo’s latest sonically swampy bluegrass single, ‘Lockdown Blues’.

The up-vibe funk-bridled single comes complete with frenetic keys, quite simply virtuosic guitar work and Pezzullo’s expressively honest lyrics that come alive through his country pop-rock vocal timbre. If you could bottle what Lockdown Blues has to offer, we’d finally have bottled Serotonin.

The anthem is all too efficacious when it comes to reminding you that everyone can pull light out of the dark, even if we don’t have the multi-faceted talent that was exhibited in Lockdown Blues. If you could imagine what it would sound like if the Stray Cats merged styles with Wild Cherry, you’ll get an idea of the aural euphoria that laces the soundscape.

Lockdown Blues is now available to stream via SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Life Is Mysterious: Men From Venus emerge with a fascinating planetary snapshot of current life with ‘Nights of Memories’

Posted on 11 April 2021

Taken off their latest spacey five-track EP called ‘Midnight Ruse‘, Men From Venus return from another world beyond, with the new single about processing the current state of mind on ‘Nights of Memories’.

Men From Venus are a two-piece duo from England who fuse wonderful guitar, bass, keys and synthesizer soundscapes, into a washing wave that takes you up high above all, so you can see yourself a bit clearer than before, as your toxins are cleaned out to make way for the future.

They morph a mysterious sound together that has you so intrigued, your senses look up above and wonder when it will all make sense, if at all.

Their creativity has you struck in your mind, as the underground experience somehow lifts you into thinking deeper, their mixture of music has you wondering intently and pondering your next move, in this strange but fascinating galaxy.

‘Nights of Memories‘ from England’s Men From Venus, is a stunning experience that captures how strange the world is and how you have to stay awake longer sometimes, to build up your strength so you can face the darkness and all its scary unpredictability.

Stream this new track on Spotify and see more on the IG.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Abandon the Fall – Compass Rose: Relentlessly Mesmerising Instrumental Alt Rock

Posted on 1 April 2021

‘Compass Rose’ is just one of the interstellar instrumental tracks to feature on Abandon the Fall’s latest alt-rock EP ‘Infinite Seasons’.

With the morosity of the National resonating in the quiescent interludes, when the track builds up to the breaks, you’ll be on the edge of your seat as Abandon the Fall plays havoc with your emotions and takes control of rhythmic pulses.

Compass Rose is a relentlessly mesmerising single that never leaves you feeling over-faced by the layers of viscerally-charged instrumentals. Instead, it leaves you leaning deeper into the soul of the single which is easy to find in the distinctive guitar notes which linger over atmospheric electronic effect.

Compass Rose is now available to stream via Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Moose Wrench – an ‘Oasis Of Calm’

Posted on 30 March 2021
Moose Wrench

Opening up with a solo guitar before the vocal kicks in, ‘Oasis Of Calm’ is a flamenco-y, Spanish guitar-y, neo-classical-y acoustic-based guitar track with gravelly vocals courtesy of Moose Wrench – a.k.a. Leeds-based producer Craig Robertson – interjecting occasionally into the predominantly acoustic track.

The guitar rotates around a number of themes, ultimately returning to the same melodic motif, following the vocal line, interspersed with electronic sampled parts throughout the 8’38” of the track. Taken from Moose Wrench’s new five track EP ‘Dead Stars’, you can hear ‘Oasis Of Calm’ – and pre-order the EP – on BandCamp.

Review by Alex Holmes

Baneful Town tells an indie-folk tale of love, loss and hedonism with their latest single, ‘You and No One Else’.

Posted on 11 March 2021

Thanks to artists such as Baneful Town, folk will never become an archaic and outdated genre; as you pick bits of bluegrass out of the raw yet harmonically timbered single, you’ll also feel the sting of the contemporary resonance in the candid lyrics. If you’ve ever attempted to fill a hole with hedonism only to find yourself even more hollow, you’re sure to find plenty of yourself reflected at you in their latest single ‘You and No One Else’.

‘You and No One Else’ is the lead single from the Montreal-based three-piece’s debut self-titled album that comes with a promise of lyrically delivering nothing but soul-projected sincerity. After hearing the all-baring lead single that takes none of the torment of pining after something you’ll never have or replace while providing a harmonically uplifting track, it’s safe to say we’re excited. Fans of everyone from Jayhawks to Dinosaur Jr to the Dandy Warhols will find plenty to love about You and No One Else.

You and No One Else is now available to stream via Spotify. Their debut album is due for official release on March 12th, 2021.

You can keep up to date with Baneful Town’s latest releases via Facebook.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Neal Gray invites you to drift into ‘A Beautiful Slumber’ with their ambient shoegaze single

Posted on 6 January 2021

Whatever your views on guitar music are, cast them aside before you hit play on the latest cinematically lush instrumental release ‘A Beautiful Slumber’ from US singer-songwriter Neal Gray.

With the same spacious soul-twistingly sweet tones as found in Slowdive’s most sedately compelling singles, the soundscape is absorbing from the first hit. The influence of Neil Halstead’s reticent yet ardently evocative quiescent guitar-style is more than palpable, but A Beautiful Slumber is so much more than just a feat of assimilation.

Neal Gray held back on the distortion and abrasive sonic effects to create a transcendent soundscape which is beguiling and cathartic in equal measure.

In a time where tranquillity is hard to come by, I sincerely recommend Neal Gray’s tracks as a staple for your playlists.

You can drift into A Beautiful Slumber yourselves by heading over to SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast