Browsing Tag

manchester

We Can Hardly See: Manchester alt-rock act Onedaybear intertwines his soul on ‘Swim’

Posted on 18 September 2021

With a hauntingly intriguing vocal ability that is rather sensationally received to our naked ears, Onedaybear sings with such love and gusto on his latest track which brings a classic story back to life with his first solo outing on ‘Swim‘.

Onedaybear is a Manchester, UK-based indie alt-rock solo artist who was formally in other band projects. He makes a terrific blend of fascinating music for the soul, which takes you to places you thought impossible to reach before.

”The inspiration for the song came from the legend of Orpheus and Eurydice. It’s a re-imagination of the tale in a modern context. “Drops on the ceiling, this night might not end.” Orpheus enters the underworld and ponders his choices.” ~ Onedaybear

With an underground style which is such a marvelous listen, we are wrapped into the underworld with a pulsating performance from a highly talented artist who seems to bend the speakers to his every whim. This is a whirlpool type of experience and packed with a supremely mysterious edge, as we are lifted into this story that feels like you are in another dimension entirely.

‘Swim‘ from the Manchester, UK-based indie rock artist Onedaybear, is a tremendous new single with so much to like from every angle. He sings with a real determination and glowing love, as the added transfixing beat takes you into a whole new world. This is a track to turn up loud and flow inside all of your excited veins, as you let an artist of this class take you for a ride into the unknown.

Hear this new single on Spotify and see more via the IG music page.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

The Maitlands have dropped their brooding double A-side Diving in at the Shallow End / Bobby Driscoll.

Posted on 3 September 2021

If you could imagine what it would be like to experience Desert Mountain Tribe, Oh Sees, the Fall and the Jim Jones Review simultaneously, you still wouldn’t come close to anticipating the brooding eclecticism of The Maitlands’ freshly cultivated sound in their first release of 2021.

With their double A-side, Diving in at the Shallow End / Bobby Driscoll, they’ve thrown a significant proportion of their humble indie rock swagger to the wayside to find more room for their artistic fortitude.

Mark Winterburn’s (Nine Black Alps, Plan B, Don Bronco, The Script) production, engineering and mastering brought a cinematic flair to the singles with symphonic motifs decorating the signature affably despondent style from their earlier releases. But honestly, I feel like I’ve just experienced the darkest post-punk glow-up imaginable.

Diving in at the Shallow End starts with desolate desert rock tones before the percussion starts speaking to you on a primal level, and discord starts to amass in the psychedelically arranged single until it breaks into a frenetic feat of dingy garage rock n’ roll.

Bobby Driscoll is a conceptual exploration of identity, loss and tragedy inspired by the story of the Disney child actor who wound up in an unmarked grave. It starts by stripping hubris away with the simple yet disarming question, ‘Do you ever feel like you’ve become a caricature of yourself?” As someone who frequently navigates the world in a dissociative state trying to uphold the image I project, it’s safe to say the compassionate narrative hit hard as it unfolded around the walls of shoegazey guitars and percussion that thrashes its way through, managing to reflect the inner turmoil that anyone with a hint of self-awareness feels.

Both singles released on September 3rd; you can check out the singles on Spotify, Amazon and iTunes via this link or connect with the Maitlands via Facebook.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

If You Want Me To: Manchester producer Feizor wonders what happened on the stunning new track ‘So Many Times’

Posted on 16 August 2021

Taken off his recent strong release named ‘Year of the Bull‘, Feizor drops the sumptuous new single all about wondering if the person you love, actually feels the same spark as you do on ‘So Many Times‘.

Feizor is a sizzling chill-pop electronica project by the Manchester, England-based producer Dallo. He is a world class music artist who makes the type of household jams for the ages, that has you feeling so much better inside each part of your excited body.

”Having gained critical acclaim as a member of Black Marks with their debut album ‘All But Defeated’, The producer has struck out on his own to mix the downtempo elements of that project with the electronica he is more widely known for under his Dallo moniker.” ~ Feizor

Her delightful vocals seems to effortlessly simmer just right into your enthralled consciousness, as you peacefully float inside these beautiful lyrics – that is matched with an absolutely quality soundtrack, which has you in a captivated state of curiosity.

‘So Many Times‘ from the highly skilled chill-pop electronica and Manchester, England-based music producer Feizor, is a loving track which is a real ear-perk that makes you rather delighted inside. On a terrific beat with succulent vocals, this is a real gem of a release.

Sometimes you just need to know, so that you may feel free inside your enlightened soul.

Hear this fiery new single on Spotify and see more on the IG music page.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Reckless Dancing Strangers: Minute Taker is fearlessly electric on ‘After The Rain’ (feat. Bright Light Bright Light)

Posted on 14 August 2021

With burning-bright vocals that has you seeing the right path to turn into, Minute Taker is at his groovy best on the cosmic gem that happens ‘After The Rain‘ (feat. Bright Light Bright Light).

Minute Taker is a nostalgic indie synth-pop singer-songwriter who is based in Manchester, England.

Joined by the legendary LGBTQ+ icon Rod Thomas from Bright Light Bright Light, this is an overcoming hate and prejudice gay anthem for the ages, which has your heart feeling so warm and happy after so much sadness.

”On the one hand, it’s about the ups and downs of a really tempestuous relationship: the kind that can be like ecstasy and pure magic at times and at other times, tearing each other apart. On a different level, it’s about the journey of the LGBTQ+ community over recent history, ‘fearless cosmic angels, burning bright’ in the face of prejudice, weathering whatever adversity comes our way.” ~ Minute Taker

Perfectly tones and intricately made with such blushing melodies, this is a gushingly-great single that has so much true love intertwined inside like a sweet bird making its homely nest. There is a radiant air of joy on this new track, that has you sensing that there is a welcoming air of change in the atmospheric landscape.

‘After The Rain’ (feat. Bright Light Bright Light) from the Manchester-based indie synth-pop musician Minute Taker, kindly shows us the bright light to go and warm up again after the cold weather of before. Sung with so much love and affection, this is the come outside-and-dance-freely track that we all needed to hear. After being locked inside our home cages for so long and sensing that we had lost some of that inner spark which makes us all so unique, this is the call to join hands and love openly again where you feel safe.

Life is all about being a good person and becoming the best version of yourself after all.

Hear this fine new track on Spotify and see more via the IG music channel.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Gybz strips the glamour from superficial pleasure with his dark RnB single, Sad Boy Hours.

Posted on 31 July 2021
Gybz

Alt RnB artist Gybz has released his viscerally raw single, Sad Boy Hours, which reflects on our tendency to seek superficial pleasure when we are at our lowest points.

The striking lyrical honesty paired with the suitably harsh electronica textures in the dark RnB track pulls you in deeper to the single that floors you with lines such as “Don’t take it so personal, I want it to be heartless”.

After so many artists have romanticised exactly what Gybz strips the glamour from in Sad Boy Hours, calling the Manchester-based artist revolutionary is far from hyperbolic.

Sad Boy Hours was released on July 29th; it is now available to stream on all major platforms via this link.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Fox Evades – soaring, spacious dreampop with ‘Someday’

Posted on 24 June 2021

Fox Evades is the solo project of Manchester-born singer songwriter and producer Jordan Mae. Following up the success of debut single ‘The Heart That Drowned’ and follow-up ‘Bira’, both of which garnered interest from BBC Introducing’s Hannah Fletcher, comes third single ‘Someday’.

A soaring, spacious three minutes of echoey dream-pop, reminiscent of Desperate Journalist, Belly, Slowdive, or The Cure, ‘Someday’ is deliciously gentle and atmospheric, tangibly breakable and ethereal, with a picked repeating guitar line that could have come straight from Three Imaginary Boys or Seventeen Seconds, and Mae’s haunting, delicate voice evocative of Tanya Donelly or Toni Halliday on vocal duties.

It’s truly excellent, and a beautiful, ephemeral taster for Fox Evades’ debut EP due out later this year. You can hear Someday on Spotify; follow Fox Evades on Facebook and Instagram.

Review by Alex Holmes

Rachael Philip pays ode to continuity in ‘Relics in the Ice’

Posted on 18 June 2021
Rachael Philip

Manchester-based self-taught musician and composer Rachael Philip has taken a break from composing for film to release her debut album, Wax Ephemeral. The influences for the standout single, Relics in the Ice, came through the artist’s intense interest in science and spirituality. You will hear the latter laden in the minimalist, accordant progressions.

Hitting play on the dreamy instrumental landscape, complemented by birdsong, is a sure-fire way to get a potent hit of catharsis. The climbing progressions may be gentle, but Relics in the Ice is as transcendent as electroacoustic ambient neo-classic work gets.

In her own words,

“The album is a tribute to the continuous cycle of life, beauty in death, and regeneration into new forms from microcosmic to macrocosmic view, of a diverse but interconnected network of beings and organisms.”

Relics in the Ice is due for release on July 2nd. In the meantime, you can check out the composer’s other equally as mesmeric scores via SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Tired Of The Games: Sensational Anguilla singer Zipporah moves on from toxic waters with ‘Pull Up’

Posted on 23 May 2021

With an enticing Caribbean flavor that tastes so tantalizingly pure and supremely good, Zipporah dreams of what she intended her life to really be about on the hot new single called ‘Pull Up‘.

Zipporah is a fully focused and extremely talented London-born, Anguilla-raised and Manchester-based Dancehall and RnB indie singer-songwriter. She sweetly makes real music with a honey coated voice of wonder that deliciously lathers a welcoming wrap of goodness, for your happy soul to enjoy and never ever forget.

“It’s crazy how common emotional abuse is today, and yet how afraid we are to talk about it. While it is not as evident as physical abuse, its scars are just as traumatic. I wanted to draw attention to the feelings experienced when in an emotionally abusive relationship, particularly the feeling of being torn about ending the relationship. This song is about gaining the courage to demand better for yourself. Being able to understand that a problem exists and if it isn’t rectified, you’re not going to settle. You deserve not only happiness but peace of mind”. – Zipporah

She has a rare ability to have you kindly enthralled into her stunning vocals, as her honest storytelling has you so intrigued as this music video shows you her terrific dance moves too. You feel a freshness while listening to this emerging artist who bring the vibe on a telling story, that has you wondering if you are indeed doing what you were destined to do.

‘Pull Up‘ from the wonderfully authentic UK/Anguilla RnB/Dancehall singer-songwriter Zipporah, shows us the true story of having the inner determination and courage, to do what you know you need to. Your wings need to open up again to fly without being held back — as to be truly free and gaining wisdom and strength — you can’t be tied up by shady forces that only want to treacherously manipulate and hold you down, for their own selfish gains.

Life should be about being super happy and following your visualized dreams after all.

See this incredibly enjoyable video on YouTube and see more news and videos on IG.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Get Your Groove Back: The sensational Hatty Keane is back with her 70’s fueled wonder on ‘Sing It!’

Posted on 18 April 2021

Sitting on top of world, the magnetic Hatty Keane urges us to look at the brighter times to come, on her new fantastic retro-disco gem called ‘Sing It!‘.

Hatty Keane is a lovable Salford, Manchester-born, UK-based 70’s inspired singer-songwriter. She makes that disco-infused music that helps the soul spark into life again, as she lights up the dull mood with her sparkling vocals and pick-me-up lyrics, that has your whole thrusting body in raptures of delight.

With her glorious voice ready to bring us those fun times again, she belts out a song that brings you back to the good times as you smile with her timeless funky groove. Your mind feels refreshed and ready to skip a step, eager to quickly dust off those hidden dance moves.

She sings with such honest beauty, each word feels like a hug to the cold heart that needs so much warmth to feel happy again. Her bubbly energy is transfixing as you can’t help but move your whole body in unison to this breathtaking new single, from a well-respected artist with so much love flowing in her veins.

‘Sing It!‘ from the phenomenally talented Hatty Keane, is a delightful song from the UK-based 70’s-styled singer with so much to offer the airwaves. This is a stunning song for the heart during these dark and gloomy times, that desperately needs more positive music like this- to warm the senses back to life.

Stream this electric track on Spotify and see her radiant style on IG.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

It Will Hurt More: Manchester electro-pop artist Test Card Girl reminds us to avoid going back to the pain on ‘Don’t Go’

Posted on 10 April 2021

As she energetically starts her cozy car and thinks about turning back to the incredible times that sadly moved swiftly to heartbreak, Test Card Girl stays strong and remembers that she is on the new path now with her quality new third single called ‘Don’t Go‘.

Test Card Girl is a terrifically unexpected solo project by the wonderful Manchester, UK lofi synth-folk singer-songwriter Catherine Burgis, who ditched the dull office life and now makes music to help us all realize that life is too short for regrets.

After recently being awarded a much-cherished Arts Council England grant to write and release her first EP, her career has skyrocketed upwards and you can hear why so many love her authentic nature that sits satisfyingly in your happy stomach.

”Combining elements of synth pop with a simple folk playground melody, this is a summer song inviting you to get up and dance away bad times and regrets accompanied by an imaginary band of synthesised players”.-Test Card Girl

This is the story of not going back, no matter what the magnetic pull says or does to your beating heart. You left for a reason and despite it being easy to go back, you are telling yourself to have the strength to overcome this lust to go again. Instead, the new plan should be to look for a new road that will make you truly happy, inside your deepest feelings of content.

‘Don’t Go‘ from the fast-rising Manchester electro-pop artist Test Card Girl, is a stunning array of synth-filled soundscapes that washes all over your mind to give you a feeling of relief, that you made the right decision to avoid heartbreak part two. Trusting that gut is always a good idea, even if your heart wants something different sometimes.

Stream this lovely new single on Soundcloud and check out the IG for more.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen