Single Review: “Cabin In The Woods” – Yoji

To close out a fabulous top ten, we have a track that starts off all mysterious, and flips the script on wanting to escape from the hustle and bustle of the city to find comfort in isolation – this song is all about escaping to civilisation! I like that, it’s like coming out of a …

Single Review: “Already Taken” – Sunflower Thieves

Oh I cheered when <strong>Sunflower Thieves</strong> showed up in the inbox last week….They are back! Already taken is acoustic guitar led with the addition of an analog drum pattern passed through a filter – all this puts the vocals at the front, and the lyrics simply ask how do you let go of something that’s …

Single Review: “Put A Record On” – NEEV

Slowing things down a little this is a new one from Scottish born London based artist <strong>NEEV</strong> This acoustic guitar led but layered with gorgeous harmonies, the call response in this track made me smile, you could almost hear a chamber choir over this. The traditional folk story telling is here, you are given the …

Single Review: “Goodbye 79” – Bloody Tourist

Time for some indie pop from Brighton’s <strong>Bloody Tourist</strong> who I suspect took their name from a 10cc record – if so, that’s a pretty solid reference! This is low key, it starts like as if you’re listening to a talkback from a mixing console where the engineer or producer is talking to the artist …

Song Review: “I Fell In Love” – Angels Of Libra

That drum intro is unmistakeably inspired by the incomparable Benny Papa Zita Benjamin. This has Motown written all over it, especially at the height of their Detroit era, you hear woodwind – specifically the flute, which is quite a rarity in pop music nowadays. They are missing a trick there! Lyrically this is about being …

Track Of The Day: “Eldest Daughter” – Taylor Swift

Let’s get this out of the way. I’m a Swifty. This is the second track of hers that I’ve reviewed this year. I know that the media and the world at large tends to have a love hate relationship with her but that’s their problem. They’ll find someone else to love to hate eventually. Ms. …

Single Review: “I Don’t Want Your Garden” – Hazlett

This one proved very popular with the moderators, coming away with the most votes from the team. This starts off as a gentle acoustic number, but then the build into an atmospheric anthemic chorus is a surprise, it comes up at a rush, and leaves you wanting more! I like the layered vocals, the harmonies …

Single Review: “Sun Over The Zoo” – Dog Monologue

This looks like Dog Monologue’s first single from what I can see, and it’s a great way to introduce us to their world. This is an electro-pop track, with an ethereal feel, I’m getting the feeling they have a love for analog synths. Lyrically this talks about a journey in the moonlight in a zoo, …

Single Review: “Sunrise On The Snow” – ABS

This is a piano based ballad, and it’s just gorgeous, it starts off with soulful chords, with Abs’s vocal coming in nice and rich, singing of someone that is the bright light to her life, and singing with such a positive energy it’s infectious. This reminds me of a quote from “This Is Us” – …

Track Of The Day: “Queen Of Queens” – Vanity Fairy

On first listen I thought I’d been transported back to 1984 – neon signs, enough hairspray to destroy the ozone layer, and the ubiquitous Linndrum which I’m suspecting I’m hearing here. This has all the makings of a track made in the nerve centre of Prince’s genius, and it’s done so well! All the funk, …