Single Review: “A La Mode” – Jazz Emu

Now this is so cool! This simmers along at the beginning, with instruments that sound about ready to explode – but the energy is held back for the vocals and it switches between rock and theatrical. I could imagine this being a treat live! The lyrics reference the high life – ala mode meaning in …

Single Review: “Never Been The Best” – Jason Lapierre x Walker

This is a great combination of jazz and acoustic soul. I’m all chilled out from listening to it and it’s setting my Sunday afternoon off perfectly. This is an acoustic led track with percussion, and I could be wrong but sounds like an acoustic bass plus keyboards. The harmonies are solid, nicely layered. What caught …

Single Review: “Get Better” – Dusty Boots

This is pretty appropriate given that we are in that dull part of the year where it’s still dark when we get up in the morning, pay day is still a decade away, and it’s the winter blues. This song is a bit of a statement to say, it’s going to get better no matter …

Single Review: “Let Us Be” – Mr Billy Fitzgerald

Big drums? Phil Collins style? Jangly guitars with that 80s sheen like Nile Rodgers David Bowie era vibes? Big voice delivering a not unpleasant vocal? Go ahead.I’m listening. This song is about standing up against people they can’t stand to see someone happy. It’s a fun listen, with a great danceable track – I feel …

Single Review: “Catch The Door” – Liza Lo

This has such a tasty groove to it! You have bass, drums, percussion and guitar, giving great vibes, it had me bopping my head to it from the get go. Add to that the piano that’s playing along with Liza’s deep and rich vocals – there’s a nice touch of reverb on it at 1:08 …

Single Review: “Monsoon Breeze” – Ch’Lu

This track is a beautiful folk number with an ethereal quality to it, which makes me understand why Ch’Lu chose to label this as new age. Within the track you hear so many layers – bird song, operatic vocals, crickets. All accompanied by a classical guitar, this whisked me off to a far away place …

Blog Interview: Dave Way

Picture: Brendan Holmes You are a multifaceted producer and sound engineer, how did it all begin for you?  Well, I played in bands and wrote songs as a kid but at some point decided that I might be better suited for the studio side of making music and so I went to Berklee College of …

Single Review: “Passé” – Mediocre Cafe

I like the futuristic soul jazz vibes to this! The chords and bass line define this perfectly. I could imagine Pharrell jamming out to this, possibly even Justin Timberlake. The synths play an important part in this, providing an earworm for days! The lyrics show a dry sense of humour about this being a 2 …

Single Review: “Dead Moles” – Andrew Goldring

This song soundtracked my walk around Sainsbury’s. It’s gentle, but very dark in terms of the progression and feel though so it’s quite a contrast! This is an acoustic led number, with strings added for good measure, Andrew sings in the higher register but it’s whispered. My favourite part is when the piano and strings …