Browsing Tag

US Indie

Azure Wolf depict internal conflict in their alt-indie single, ‘Chateau’.

Posted on 26 May 2021

Winchester, VA-based ethereal indie rock artist Azure Wolf brought their haunting tones to the airwaves once more with their double a-side release, Chateau / Honey Rush.

Emotion and the potential for honest human connection run at the forefront of Chateau; the delicately angular shoegaze guitars bring an air of fragility and vulnerability to the release while the lyrics find powerful meta ways to relay the complexities of pain. With lyrics such as, “I’d drink that poison just to swallow that pill”, Azure Wolf artfully illustrate how much internal conflict lies in each of us.

Founding member and vocalist Victoria Backle’s vocal timbre effortlessly establishes Azure Wolf as a distinctive artist that wouldn’t be out of place on a lineup with Slowdive, The National, Interpol or Editors. Yet, she leaves you in awe of far more than her vocal range. With every release from Azure Wolf, you get a sense of the bravery it took for each of the members to throw themselves in completely.

Azure Wolf’s latest release is now available to stream via Spotify and Bandcamp.

Connect with Azure Wolf via Facebook and Instagram.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Azure Wolf orchestrated the ultimate alt-indie pop-rock anthem with their single, ‘Honey Rush’.

Posted on 26 May 2021

On May 21st, 2021, Azure Wolf released their most visceral work to date with their double a-side single, Chateau / Honey Rush. Both of the singles are fervent exhibitions of the Winchester, VA-based alt-indie artist’s authentically accessible experimentalism. Yet, with Honey Rush, Azure Wolf orchestrated a dark pop-rock anthem that unequivocally affirms that they need to be on your gig bucket list.

With pop elements creating an all-consuming chorus constructed with sweeping sonic progressions, anthemic production and catchy lyrics that you’ll probably need a serious concussion to forget, Honey Rush is the ultimate anthem for anyone whose mentality errs on the side of melancholy.

The breaks that follow the tension-fraught build-ups offer a serious amount of catharsis as you get caught up in the tumultuous momentum of the radio-ready single. It is one of those tragically rare singles that becomes more impactful and meaningful the more you listen to it.

Azure Wolf’s latest release is now available to stream via Spotify and Bandcamp.

Connect with Azure Wolf via Facebook and Instagram.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Junebug delivers meditative empowerment in her debut indie-pop single, ‘cut you loose’,

Posted on 6 May 2021

If you’ve been putting off severing toxic ties, the debut melodic indie-pop offering, ‘cut you loose’ from up and coming Cambridge, MA-hailing artist Junebug offers plenty of extra incentives with a stunning melding of easy guitar chords and playful synths.

There’s intrinsic innocence to cut you loose. Usually, tracks in the same vain spin the same archetypal, spiteful, ‘better off without you’ narrative. Yet, cut you loose is meditative in the way it reminds you that you’re worthy of inner peace with the cool choral tones.

Any fans of Kate Nash and Big Thief will appreciate Junebug’s airy yet ardent style which is heavily inspired by Joni Mitchell and Laura Marling, paired with her conversationally narrative lyrics that bring her voice as a queer artist into the conversation.

cut you loose was created in collaboration with instrumentalist Chris Howat, who added more depth to the cathartically connectable single that was written, recorded and mixed by Junebug (AKA Carolyn Fahrner) who has been part of the intrinsic fabric of the Boston music scene prior to her Junebug debut.

With her debut EP, ‘Turncoat’, in the works, which promises to be her most vulnerable material yet while exploring queer experiences and growing pains, Junebug is well worth a spot on your radar.

cut you loose is now available to stream via Spotify.

Connect with Junebug via Instagram.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Jangle Pop Meets Grungy Garage Rock in Juniper Avenue’s Latest Single ‘Disfunction’

Posted on 9 April 2021

With an intro that could rival the poppy jangly energy in This Charming Man, you’ll fall head-first into Juniper Avenue’s latest single, ‘Disfunction’.

It doesn’t take long before the feat of new wave indie quintessence slips into a darker, more despondent indie styling that takes hold of the same biting energy exuded by The Strokes.

Beyond reminiscence, Disfunction sits right on the contemporary trend of finding no shame in stating that you’re fairly close to losing the plot. With a touch of grungy garage rock to the vocals which still bleed soul despite their raucous nature, Disfunction offers everything you could ask for and more.

With vocals that will be a hit with any Chris Cornell fans, eclectically wild instrumentals and the raw lyrics which don’t just scratch at superficiality, Juniper Avenue is definitely worth putting on your radar.

Disfunction is now available to stream via Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Speak, Memory – Trails: an instrumental art-rock exploration of unrequited love

Posted on 7 April 2021
Speak, Memory

Oklahoma-residing alt-indie artist, Speak, Memory are set to release their highly-anticipated EP ‘Adirondack’, which allows the listener to see the beauty in shared experiences – no matter how harrowing they may be to endure on a personal level.

‘Trails’ is the first of three singles on the live-recorded EP to explore the torrid emotions surrounding unrequited love through instrumentals alone. After waves of spiritual reverb ease you into the soundscape, angular jangly indie-pop guitars start to cut through the accordance until the track builds up an all-consuming wall of guitars that could rival My Bloody Valentine’s sonic constructions.

It’s a track that you can’t help getting caught up in, making it impossible not to get excited about the future of this artfully astute outfit.

You’ll have to wait a little longer before you can check out Adirondack for yourselves. In the meantime, head over to their official website.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Post Sex Nachos have released their explosively amorous Indie Rock Anthem Holdin’ Onto You

Posted on 19 December 2020

Columbia-based fourpiece, Post Sex Nachos, have been hit as hard as any emerging artist in 2020, but after hearing the effervescent energy in their latest high-octane Indie Rock anthem, Holdin’ Onto You, you’d struggle to believe it.

Right from the intro, the stadium-filling tone is set while Post Sex Nachos give the likes of Johnny Marr and Arcade Fire a run for their money. The relatable romantic lyrics hammer home a sentiment which we’ve all undoubtedly clung to in preceding months. There’s a euphoric emphasis of the importance of holding onto the person in our lives that see us more vividly than anyone else. If you don’t have the words to tell your favourite person just how much you love them, Post Sex Nachos definitely do.

You can check out Holdin’ Onto You for yourselves by heading over to Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Stükenberg calls for socio-political peace with their idyllically transformative single ‘Blind Unity’

Posted on 19 November 2020

US Indie multi-instrumentalist, producer, engineer and Grammy-nominated songwriter Stükenberg’s latest release “Blind Unity” operates on a celestial level. Hit play and you’ll feel the pure weight of the emotion it contains crawl beneath your ribs as you drink in the idyllic peace-inspiring tone.

The mellow progressions prop up Stükenberg’s resounding vocals as they bring harmony to the conversational lyricism which offers so much imagery Blind Unity becomes so much more than an aural experience.

His succinct way of reflecting reality and commonality back at you is practically unparalleled. Emotion and introspection are fed in fragments, but together, they weave an intricate tapestry which illustrates the frustrations of navigating 2020. Ultimately, Blind Unity is an invitation to put rise above the hysterical partisan ideals and misconceptions which is tearing our society apart more than whoever is sitting in the White House ever could.

You can check out Blind Unity which is part of Stükenberg’s 2020 album Double Plus Panic via Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Cloverchild brings in the future of Funk with “Down Deep”

Posted on 22 October 2020
https://cloverchild.bandcamp.com/track/down-deep

Chicago-based Indie artist Cloverchild blessed the airwaves with lashings of futuristic Funk with the release of their album Fool’s Paradise which dropped October 2nd.

Hit play and immerse yourself in a high-vibe medley of Disco tones, playful electronica and Rock-inclined rhythmic prowess. The perfect introduction to their charismatically compassionate approach to Indie is “Down Deep”. If you could imagine what it would sound like if you came across John Grant on a good day, you’ll get an idea of the groovy soulful appeal which Down Deep has to offer.

You can check out Down Deep with the rest of Cloverchild’s 2020 album via Bandcamp.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Franklin Gotham – Keeping On: A Choral Americana Power Pop Masterpiece

Posted on 9 October 2020
https://franklingotham.bandcamp.com/track/keeping-on

With each new release from Franklin Gotham, they surpass the expectation which their preceding single set. Their new evocatively powerful single Keeping On feels so timely it is practically serendipitous.

The Virginia, US-based Americana Power Pop artist has a tendency to craft melodies which are sharp and succinct enough that you’ll feel them scratching away at your soul. Keeping On is definitely no exception. The harrow of the previous 6-months has evidently had a profound impact on Franklin Gotham’s equally as profound production style.

The dreamy melodicism in Keeping Melodicism is enough to disrupt your rhythmic pulses as the angular guitar licks explore the full tonal palette. Optimism rings in the shimmering highs of the guitar notes as much as it does in Franklin Gotham’s gentle, reassuring and downright stunning vocals. It’s hard not to feel a little emotional while listening to the tender compassion contained in this choral Power Pop masterpiece.

You can check out Keeping On for yourselves by heading over to Bandcamp.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Creeptones – Soul Fire: A College-Radio Rock Earworm

Posted on 18 September 2020

Uplifting and happy, the Creeptones ‘Soul Fire’ – the new single from the New Jersey fourpiece’s ‘Hell And Ice’ album – is a jangling, deliciously poppy 4’24” of vaguely sixties-inspired college radio-style rock with an earworm of a chorus and a beautifully hummable vocal melody line, in the vein of the Flaming Lips, Turin Brakes, or the Delgados.

Currently smashing Spotify ‘Indie’ playlists left, right, and centre, the Creeptones Hell And Ice should put them firmly on the musical map, a melodic catchy collection of 13 songs that worm their way into your brain and refuse to let go. ‘Soul Fire’ is the perfect lead single from that collection.

‘Soul Fire’ – and the full Hell and Ice album – are available from the Creeptones website.