Browsing Tag

Indie Jazz Fusion

Spener blurred the lines between indie-rock and neo-soul in his compassion-driven single, Dial Away

Posted on 21 September 2022

North of England-born, Barcelona-based artist Spener blurred the lines between indie-rock and jazzy neo-soul in his slickly smooth seminal single, Dial Away.

I’m not entirely sure what is more enamouring in Dial Away, the euphonically consoling soundscape or the lyrical compassion that extends a sense of unconditional empathy that is scarcely found elsewhere to the listener.

While the mainstream media leaves us inclined to believe that artists like Amy Winehouse only come around once in a generation, Spener blows that notion out of the water with the sheer visceralism of his down-to-earth candour that can easily become addictive through his hook-laden vocal lines.

Dial Away is now available to stream on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Get your nostalgia hit with Smooth Retsina Glow’s funk-pop jazz-fusion single, Memories Made

Posted on 4 June 2021

‘Memories Made’ is just one of the singles that alt-rock outfit, Smooth Retsina Glow, has toured the US with since making their debut in 2020; with international airplay and 60 shows under their belt, they’re well on their way to shedding their ‘up and coming’ status.

With enough funk to give Nile Rogers a run for his money and sticky-sweet pop sensibilities to the female vocals, Memories Made is a tranquil yet equally enlivening track. There are serious melodic grooves in the rhythm section but with the choppy staccato guitar chords, there’s plenty of upbeat energy pouring from the heart and soul of this nostalgia-inducing track.

You can check out the official video to Memories Made by heading over to YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Lewis Daniel asks what we’ve all been thinking – ‘Why Me’?

Posted on 26 April 2021

The debut single from your debut EP can always be a nerve-wracking time, even for a performer as highly sought after as Lewis Daniel. Playing across venues as wide-ranging as the Royal Albert Hall, Glastonbury Festival, and Ibiza Rocks, and composing for and performing with artists as diverse as MOBO-winner Rachel Kerr, Boadi, The Last Dinosaur, The House Gospel Choir, and his own horn section The Biscuit Horns, BRIT School and Guildhall School of Music alumnus Daniel’s debut, ‘States Of Being’, is a concept piece which melds his British and Caribbean influences; ‘Why Me’, as the title suggests, talks about that peculiar introspective place between anger and meditativeness, an internal questioning of why the world is the way it is.

A mostly instrumental piece, save for some deliciously evocative French-language spoken word sections, ‘Why Me’ mixes Daniel’s trademark saxophone with dance beats, synth bass, Caribbean steel drums, and electronics, melding jazz, hip-hop, and garage into an auditory experience that’s at times dazzling in its complexity, surprising, uplifting, and toe-tappingly good.

You can hear ‘Why Me’ on Spotify now. Lewis Daniel’s ‘States Of Being’ EP is out on the 30^th April; in the meantime, you can follow on Facebook and Instagram.

Review by Alex Holmes

Nathan Rodd revived old school alt-folk blues with their sonorously sonic single ‘Natalie’

Posted on 12 February 2021

How do you make old school alt-folk blues just as mesmerising as Tom Waits did in the 70s? You’ll find the answer in up and coming artist, Nathan Rodd’s, debut EP ‘Slowly’.

The standout single ‘Natalie’, finds the perfect balance of sonorous sonic power and delicate intrigue right from the intro. From there on out, pulled along by the tightly packed, intricately progressions which bleed nuances of jazz. But there’s nothing nuanced about the full-frontal emotion which unequivocally confirms that romance is still alive in 2021.

The distinctively raspy whisky-stained vocals give the soundscape an archaic touch while the masterfully dynamic production makes sure that Natalie wouldn’t be out of place on contemporary airwaves.

Nathan Rodd’s debut EP is now available to stream via Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Millie Gibson serves smoky, jazzy soul in her debut single ‘Leon’

Posted on 29 December 2020

Amy Winehouse comparisons are easy to make, but there’s plenty more reasons to get excited about Millie Gibson’s striking vocal timbre in her debut single, ‘Leon’, than just reminiscences to a soul icon.

The smoky, jazzy serving of soul is as refined as contemporary RnB gets. Which is even more impressive given that the singer-songwriter and pianist achieved such maturity and nuance in her sound at the age of just 19-years-old.

Even with the state of socio-political uncertainty in the UK, on the basis of Leon, the future looks incredibly bright for Millie Gibson. There’s an unparalleled sense of sensitivity in her sound. You don’t need her bio to tell you that she strives to make the most purposeful music she is capable of. Just hit play.

You can check out Millie Gibson’s single Leon for yourselves by heading over to Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Millie Gibson serves smoky, jazzy soul in her debut single ‘Leon’

Posted on 29 December 2020

You can check out Millie Gibson’s single Leon for yourselves by heading over to Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Vvolla – Never Untrue: Blissfully Resolving Neo-Soul Pop Served with a Twist of Psych

Posted on 14 June 2020

Irish fourpiece Vvolla has made their debut with the blissfully resolving Neo-Soul Pop single “Never Untrue”. Within it, you’ll find layers of beguilingly nostalgic tonal warmth paired with Emily Lannin’s distinctively alluring vocal dynamic. Vvolla makes it all too easy to feel right at home in the Jazz-soaked melodies in Never Untrue. Even from the first hit.

I especially appreciated the Blues Rock guitar solos which take the soundscape to the next level thanks to the nuances of psychedelia which were definitely unexpected after ingesting the chorally sweet accordance which led up to the kaleidoscopic solo.

You can check out Vvolla’s single Never Untrue for yourselves by heading over to Spotify now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

The Family Dog – EASY: Smooth Jazz-Infused Indie Blues Rock

Posted on 3 April 2020

EASY is the smooth Jazz-infused debut release from up and coming Indie Blues Rock artist The Family Dog. If you could imagine a mellifluous merging of the styles of Jack White, Kurt Vile, and modern Indie Rock artists such as Arctic Monkeys, you’ll get an idea of what’s in store when you hit play.

As someone who has always appreciated virtuosic prowess popping from rhythmically appeasing guitar progressions, it was all too easy to fall into the groove of EASY. It may even provide more tonally warm catharsis than Faith No More’s track Easy. It’s a bold statement, but once you get wrapped up in the sweetly resonant track, I’m sure you’ll be inclined to agree.

You’ll have to wait a little longer before you can check out the debut single from The Family Dog which will be available to stream via SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Roussett – We Might Just Do This All Day: Hypnotically Psychedelic Alt Indie Pop

Posted on 5 February 2020

“We Might Just Do This All Day” is the psychedelically serene latest single from up and coming Alt Indie artist Roussett.

If Elliott Smith experimented with spacey and colourful tones, I’d imagine that it wouldn’t sound all too different from the ethereal catharsis found in We Might Just Do This All Day which would be haunting if it weren’t so soothing. The lucid layers gently weave through their Jazz-infused progressions as the delicately amorous vocals find the perfect synergy alongside them.

I don’t make Mr Bungle comparisons lightly. But the soundscape perceptibly shared the same kind of ingenuity which you’d find in the hazy, oceanic avant-garde tracks such as Retrovertigo and Pink Cigarette.

There will be plenty more to come from Roussett in 2020, so do your blood pressure and get them on your radar.

You can check out Roussett’s latest single We Might Just Do This All Day for yourselves by heading over to SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast