Single Review: “Queen Of Every Night” – Cassandra

This song combines opera with pop. POPERA! The operatic vocal at the beginning will fool you – but when that beat drops? You’re in trouble. This is a banger, and it’s done so well! Probably my favourite track of the year so far! I like opera, and the crossover for me works, it’s combining classical …

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: “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: “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 …

Single Review: “It’s Never Been Better” – The Goa Express

I like the way this begins, the phases in straight into the jangly guitars.. you don’t expect it! This song is a reflection on a summer relationship of some sort, now it’s the winter it’s great to look back on the summer of 2023 now the year is almost over My favourite par of the …

Single Review: “Somebody’s Daughter” – The Deep Blue

This song….  It got me through my morning cuppa and emails. It then got me through my walk around sainsbury’s. It got me through putting my shopping away.  I’ve been sat at the keyboard playing around with the chord progression too.  What a beauty! The electric piano is what did it for me, especially in …

EP Review: “Modern Artifice” – Freyja Elsy

Freyja is here and she’s brought four stunning tracks! Let’s get into it. Sad Girls This track opens up with ethereal sounds, bells and what sounds like an arpeggiated muted guitar. The drums are quite complex once they get going – hi hats switching between 8th note rhythms to 32nd rhythms, the rim shot playing …

Single Review: “Witness Me” – Jacob Collier, Kirk Franklin, Stormzy, Shawn Mendes.

Well, this is…. HUGE. A multi instrumentalist with prodigious amounts of talent. A gospel music legend. A British rapper who is larger than life. An incredible singer songwriter from Canada who’s killing it right now… Plus a 500 voice choir no less. This starts off with Jacob’s signature tones, rich in sound, backed by finger …

Single Review: “Master Narrative” – Barbara

Well! This is a stonker of a track from Barbara. Electric piano put through a slight phaser for the intro, it comes at you with the feel of a musical theatre song, you can just imagine the gaudy colours and big gestures. Just to add to that the big vocals with harmonies panned left and …