Browsing Tag

The Cure

On Ithenfal’s Wing – Key to Then: A Medieval Medley of Metal

You never know what you’re going to get from a Prog Rock band. On Ithenfal’s wing certainly delivered the unexpected with their latest track Key to Then which takes you through a journey of time and leaves you questioning the year.  The track is a 7-minute marathon curtesy of a nostalgically talented collective of artists from the US influenced by artists such as Opeth, Radiohead, Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin. They must be the first band in history to infuse all of those sounds together to create a cocktail of archaic madness.

It wouldn’t sound out of place on a Game of Thrones soundtrack even though the vocals did remind me of Robert Smith from The Cure, well, if Robert Smith did Pantomime. Typical of any Prog Rock band, there’s heavy emphasis on the instrumentals which flow with ease, yet I can’t quite help but think the track is disjointed by the slightly sub-par vocals which just don’t match the veracity of the sound that the band puts out.

The bands conceptual album Key to Then was brought out earlier this December, so jump on the hype and check out Key to Then via Soundcloud using the link below:

https://soundcloud.com/on-ithenfals-wing/key-to-then-2

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

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

Crow Quilled Confessions Release Fascinating Track ‘A Human Being on the Planet Earth’

A Human Being on the Planet Earth by Crow Quilled Confessions

I recently attended a De La Sol set at a festival in Queens. I enjoyed an interlude in which a voice from the trio said that sometimes you just need to let the beat play. It’s always nice to hear how artists feel about the things they make and how they make them. It’s also nice to see how artists whose styles vary greatly can agree on certain sentiments. Such is the case with Crow Quilled Confessions. Their track A Human Being on the Planet Earth perfectly demonstrates a group who know how to let the beat play when it needs to.

For the first half of the song, there are several elements introduced that seem to orbit around the catchy, strongly-mixed beat. You might miss some details along the way if you aren’t careful, but one thing is for certain, you will feel that beat. It doesn’t seem like a drum part that needs much elaboration. It may not have much to say. This doesn’t stop Crow Quilled Confessions from letting it lead the charge into the second half, which quickly but organically reinvents its status quo with fuzzy guitars and a bass that triumphantly makes its presence known.

From here, the track becomes a ride. Suddenly the beat has taken a backseat for the exploration of all the other themes that had previously been allowing it to lead. For such a dramatic change in priority to occur while holding onto the mood and tone of the song is a major challenge. Even as the song fades out in its last 30 seconds, you can’t help but feel the beat play on in your mind. This is a song that leaves the speakers and really does affect your mind for moments at a time. It’s not overly complicated, but it’s certainly a fascinating track.

-Paul Weyer