A&R Factory

The Cinematic with Soul Alt-Rock Originators, Underblue, Will Wrench Your Heart Strings with ‘Hold On’

Posted on 9 May 2023

‘Hold On’ is the latest slice of filmic funk born from the ingenuity and superlative talent possessed by the NYC alt-rock outfit, Underblue, who have been creating inner-city waves since 2016.

This seminal release is an undeniable testament that it is their time. The soulfully smoky siren-ESQUE vocal lines from Kimberly Torres, the devilishly jazzy basslines from Simon Luk, and the ornate flourishes from keyboardist Ilvi Calderon is almost too much alchemy to handle – almost. Entwined with the guitars that straddle the timbres of the Cramps and My Bloody Valentine and the drums that punctuate the soundscape with flair, Hold On is a progressively interstellar triumph.

With heavy, hopeful, happy, and heart-wrenching being the cornerstones of the ethos behind the upcoming LP, you’re damn right you should save space on your radar for the powerhouse, which has enough innovation between them to rival Mars Volta – not an overstatement.

Hold On will officially release on May 19th followed by the full album on June 9th. Hear it on SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

The Hoy Polloy – Hats Off: Why Stick to One Genre?

Posted on 8 November 2017

The Hoy Polloy are a Miami based quartet of twee audio revellers who use an inexplicable variation of elements to create the perfect cacophony of melodic sound with a relentlessly upbeat sound that’s intoxicatingly fresh.

They’ve created the perfect storm in their track ‘Hats Off’ with their raucous arrangements spinning chaotically around them as they infuse a plethora of sound into their mix; using elements of Psychedelic, Progressive, Alternative and Indie sounds with a Pop Rock & Roll twist! They tether the sound together to create sound waves that are succinct & stylish.

Hats Off is just one of the enigmatic tracks featured in The Hoy Polloy’s 5th studio album ‘Bye Bye Bogata’, all of the tracks on the album were created in the aftermath of the tour with their first album ‘On the Way to Rome’.

The stand out track on the album oozes soulful old school beats with puritanical vocals on top. The vocalist has undeniable talent which his show cased through his ability to inject euphoria into the listener in the same style as some of my favourite vocalists. The band is the collective work of all of the talented musicians, they each bring their own unique style to create a sound that could be compared to Fidlar, Mercury Rev & Modest Mouse.

Check out their spectacular track using the SoundCloud link below:

https://soundcloud.com/thehoypolloy/hats-off