Single Review: “Bigger Than The Song” – Brittney Spencer

This track caught my ear because of the passion with which it’s sung, especially in the chorus. The chorus name checks Reba, Aretha, and Dolly, and you feel their influence in this because the vocals can be delicate as well as powerful and I love it! This track mixes country, with a slight sprinkle of …

Single Review: “Vienna” – Ultravox

On 1st January 2013 Ultravox’s 1981 hit ‘Vienna’ was voted the UK’s favourite number two single. The song topped a poll by BBC Radio 2 and the Official Charts Company to find the greatest track to miss out on the number one spot. Vienna was held off by novelty track ‘Shaddup You Face’ by Joe …

Single Review: “PWMS1” – Robi Theophilus

This track is short and sweet! Clocking in at 0:56 it still has an impact. There’s a lot here. It starts off with a vocal that I suspect Robi’s sampled and is playing back on the keyboard. The voicing of the chords are so cool! Add to that 808 drums, guitar, bass and a piano …

Single Review: “Time Rift” – inSINcere

What I like about this song is that it easily switches gear. It starts off with a rhythmic acoustic guitar riff over hi hats, then the bassline comes in after a tom and snare hit signalling It but there is more to come…. I want to talk about one thing that drew my attention in …

Single Review: “Save Yourself From Me” – Jim Pearson

This is track three from Jim’s new album “Death To Mortality”, and is probably my favourite track on the album especially for the bass groove from 2:11 in. This song fuses a bit of 70s prog rock with the synths, folk rock style vocals, and the soulful musicianship. The bassline has a hint of James …

Single Review: “Ruby” – Offing

This is the new single from my friend Offing. It’s not your run of the mill indie pop song, it’s a different time signature to most, 6/8 time with a slight swing to it. I love the stops and starts and the synths deployed here – having looked at her instagram I think she’s using …

Single Review: “Aurora” – MEUTE

A mix of electronica and a brass band? From Germany you say? Go ahead. I’m listening! This track fuses horns and drums with electronic sounds on the bed of a steady beat… there’s a marimba too. The percussion mixed in is down so well, shakers highlighting the hi hats… this is a banger! The thing …

Single Review: “Unfinished Sympathy” – Massive Attack

This track is just beautiful! Why did I pick it for the throwback track of the day? Well back in 1998 listeners for BBC Radio 1 voted this number 1 in the 100 national anthems. For me this track has got everything, lush strings, scratching, a breakbeat with hypnotic bells in there too. The vocals …

Single Review: “Air, Part 2” – Lycio.

What I like about this track is the use of synthesisers on it, it’s nice and spacious overall! The crackle of the vinyl at the beginning gives you the feeling this could have been recorded in the 80s, and this is reinforced with the way that the drums have a bit of a swing to them …

EP Review: “The Darkside Of Christmas Ch. 2” – Collette Cooper. Words: Sammy Stein.

Multi-talented performer Collette Cooper is signed to independent label, Thelonius Punk Records. She has been featured on BBC radio, Jazz FM, and Soho radio as a musician. She has also been the subject of interviews in books and is an actor, recently undertaking a role portraying singer Janis Joplin, in the play (that she also …