music

Waves of Dread Deliver a Dreamy Masterpiece with “The Tide” – EP Review

13th Oct 2024 — Leave a comment

Combining the very best of shoegaze and dream pop, Waves of Dread have produced one of the best EPs to come out of the North East this year with The Tide.

Following up 2023’s A Bad Dream in a Raging Sea, the Newcastle group have pushed themselves forward with their latest release, which combines lush production with excellent songwriting.

This all coalesces into a tight package that feels like waking up to a beautiful morning, with its hazy and distorted production.

Opener The Tide sets the dreamy tone, providing fun basslines and synths aplenty. Beneath the dream pop aesthetics lies an exceptionally written song, with a gorgeous chorus that hits all the right notes.

Early Riser builds on these aesthetics with a very trippy sounding beginning, featuring distant vocals and a beautiful guitar line built upon a bed of rainfall. As the track progresses, it welcomes gorgeously thick basslines into the mix, with a few hauntingly good synth lines thrown in for good measure. The whole thing feels like waking from a nice dream into a perfect morning.

The guitars clean up for Overspill, with its sharp guitar melody. The track once again demonstrates the smart production choices that run through the EP at its core. The use of layering is fabulous, allowing the track to get dirtier as it goes on, as layer upon layer of guitar is added to the overall mix.

Restless Sleeper, Sleepless Dreamer concludes the EP, using a glockenspiel to power the track forward, contributing massively to the dream pop feel. There’s more of an acoustic focus on this track, yet it is still washed in beautiful reverb.

Overall, this dream pop and shoegaze EP is a must-listen for fans of groups such as Slowdive and Cocteau Twins, with sharp songwriting and lush production.

North Shields’ Club Paradise’s New EP “Life On TV” Combines Indie, Pop and Emo to Amazing Results – EP Review

10th Oct 2024 — Leave a comment

Combining influences that include The 1975 and The Killers, Club Paradise have found a unique formula for indie pop perfection.

The four piece group, hailing from North Shields, have been slowly working their way up throughout the year, releasing singles such as Chasing The Summer and Years, both of which we have previously covered.

Those teasers definitely whetted the appetite ahead of the release, which combines everything that works on those tracks into a grander piece.

Beginning with Let Me Lose, the group immediately establishes the tone of the EP with a set of keys which feel like they could have walked straight out of a 1975 song-think I Couldn’t Be More In Love with an indie band core.

This is further elevated by a huge bridge that gets you ready for the huge gear shift the group takes you on as they increase the tempo. The vocals are a strong mixture of North East authenticity combined with a definite influence from The 1975’s Matty Healy.

The track concludes with a glitchy guitar solo that is excellently performed and provides a sign of the guitar heaven to come.

Single Chasing The Summer is next up. We covered this in depth back in July – you can read the full review here. The song still sounds like the upbeat summer banger it was when it was released and sounds great within the context of the EP.

Third track, What If These Days, continues the indie themes, winding them around an 80s pop core. The song shimmers with chorus-imbued guitars, conjuring thoughts of the neon guitar pop of the 1980s. Imagine a pop version of The Blue Nile, complete with jangly guitars and a lot of heart.

The gorgeous guitar solos take more influence from 80s rock, bringing a very classic rock feel to the sheen of the rest of the song, which works well. The overall combination of rock and pop influences works well to produce another great song.

Runaways switches things up slightly, throwing pop-punk and emo influences into the mix. This is evident at the beginning of the track, which reminded me of groups such as Blink 182. Gone is the sheen of previous tracks, replaced by chunky guitars that reach their peak in the chorus.

The track also features a great guitar solo, which illustrates the amazing lead guitar talent on show throughout the EP. This gives way to Years another song which we have previously covered. You can read my full review here.

Finisher Interstate is the perfect pick as a closer to the EP with its grandiose production and larger-than-life nature. Once again, the group taps into their heavier sides to produce a dramatic conclusion to the album.

Overall, this EP shows Club Paradise delivering on the promise of their lead up singles. If you’re a fan of groups like The 1975, you’ll love this EP.

Ryder’s “Only The Brave” Showcases Sunderland Group at Their Anthemic Best – Album Review

6th Oct 2024 — Leave a comment

The debut album from Sunderland group Ryder is packed full of anthems from start to finish. Combining the influences of Oasis and Kasabian together leads to an album brimming with heart.

Opening with Forgotten Dream, these influences are immediately evident, with a definite hint of Liam Gallagher in the vocals. The track as a whole reminded me of some of Johnny Marr’s solo work, with the bass breakdown towards the end skilfully executed, adding to the track’s massive overall sound.

Lone Soldier has a nice synth opening which gives it a slightly different feel. This combined with a chorus of voices and heavy guitar work reminded me a lot of Kasabian, especially with its passionate delivery.

Northern Lights continues the trend of massive choruses and soaring anthems, with a very Noel Gallagher-esque solo thrown in for good measure. Whilst Inner City Violence brings some social commentary to record, with some excellent drum work going on on the track.

The bass work on the album is also exquisite, and is particularly showcased on Men in Suits, where the bassline reminded me of Paul McCartney’s work on Taxman.

The beginning of Ziggy echoes of Oasis’ Talk Tonight before the whole band kicks in for the second verse. The song has an anthemic vibe, with some touching tributes to David Bowie baked within the lyrics. It feels tailor-made for a live setting, with a soaring chorus you can easily imagine going down well at a festival.

The title track, Only The Brave, again brings heavy guitars, with a touch of The Clash in the mix while lighter guitar flourishes sit atop of them to great results.

The commentary on problematic men on Hold on Tight is seamlessly woven into this biting track, creating a sharp, aggressive edge.

Heavy guitars pierce throughout Balloons, which features a great recurring guitar line reminiscent of Arctic Monkeys. Finale Faces In The Crowd is a suitably grand ending to this massive-sounding album, finishing the LP on a high.

If you love your anthems and like groups like Oasis, then you will definitely appreciate this strong debut showing.

Darren Burdis Takes an Emotional Stroll Through Heartbreak on New Single “Heartbeats” – Single Review

3rd Oct 2024 — Leave a comment

Indie singer-songwriter Darren Burdis’ new single will certainly get hearts fluttering with a gorgeous, personal track.

The Newcastle songwriter has turned in a clever and touching acoustic ballad, hitting hard from the moment the needle drops.

The shimmering guitar line that floats atop the acoustic opening is a gorgeous way to start showcasing Burdis’ talent with the instrument and setting the track on the right path.

I particularly enjoyed how the drumbeat mirrored the rhythm of a heartbeat, reflecting the meticulous attention to detail in the production.

In terms of the overall vibe of the song I could hear the influences of indie folk artists such as Elliot Smith, particularly evident in the heartbreaking lyrics.

This is beautifully intertwined with the glossy guitar work which reminded me of the heartland rock of Bruce Springsteen and the North East’s own Sam Fender.

The vocal delivery is hoarse and husky perfectly suited to this track giving Burdis the perfect tools to paint this emotionally raw piece onto the record.

The gorgeous backing vocals towards the backend of the song evoke early Radiohead, and if you’re into similar acoustic indie music with a lot of heart, this single is definitely for you.

Teesside’s Nice Guy Shines with Anthemic Indie Pop Banger “Alone” – Single Review

29th Sep 2024 — Leave a comment

Teesside’s Nice Guy’s new single shimmers with its glistening indie pop production and standout performances.

The tight songwriting complements the great production with intricate guitar riffs and a wall of sound produced by the band.

Within the track, you can hear the influences of such artists as Sam Fender and The Stone Roses. This is especially evident in the vocal delivery, which combines nasal, laid-back style with a touch of North East accent, creating a distinctive blend.

One particular element I enjoyed was the excellent guitar work, which dances throughout the verses before hitting you with a wall of sound in the chorus.

The track doesn’t strictly follow the quiet verse/loud chorus formula, but it echoes that dynamic, with the chorus hitting particularly hard.

The gorgeous use of organ was also another delight, diversifying the production and bringing a depth to the overall sound.

If you’re a fan of indie pop and love catchy anthems, this one is definitely for you.

grapevine Delivers on Catchy 80’s Inspired Single “Bad Idea”- Single Review

26th Sep 2024 — Leave a comment

The new track from grapevine features glossy 80s production combined with great pop songwriting to create a catchy piece of alternative pop.

Produced by local talent Jamie Donnelly, the song is drenched in the sonic palettes of the 1980s, as well as much of the pop landscape from recent years, particularly echoing the sound of artists like The Weeknd.

That is immediately evident from the intro, which begins with a driving drum machine beat that persists throughout the track.

A diverse sound has been crafted with an attention to detail, with a number of different synths being deployed to enrich the overall production, ensuring a varied sound.

At the heart of all of this is an incredibly strong and well put together pop song that takes a classic subject matter and explores it in new and interesting ways.

The chorus, which repeats the title of the track, pairs incredibly with the melody to provide an earworm, which will burrow into your mind for weeks to come.

If you enjoy artists like The Weeknd or your pop music with a catchy yet inventive edge, make sure to check out this latest single

Specky Cult Unleash a Bold New Sound with Their Explosive Single “Swish” – Single Review

22nd Sep 2024 — Leave a comment

Specky Cult are back, with a whole new sound and bold punk inspired direction on their latest single Swish.

Gone is the acoustic feel of previous releases, replaced by a punchy, full-bodied sound that immediately grabs you.

The Sex Pistols feeling bass riff which greets you at the beginning of the song sets the theme for the more full-bodied sound that the band has gone for, setting the tone for the rest of the track.

This is immediately joined in the mix by heavy and thumping guitars, which the song’s catchy melody is constructed from.

Lying over the top of this is a set of lyrics which take aim at the current beauty standards and the impact they have upon individuals.

These are delivered with the emotion and personality that you’d expect from a Specky Cult, with the group continuing to build their reputation for strong lyricism.

Add to this a catchy and memorable melody, which reaches its glorious climax during the chorus and you have another great single from Specky Cult, which highlights a different side to the group.

If you’re a fan of indie and post-punk, Swish is sure to offer plenty of thrills and fun. Make sure to also check out their previous album, which I reviewed earlier this year.

Goodsprings Swing Big with Playful Ska-Reggae Fusion on “Lo Mejor De Lo Mejor” – Single Review

19th Sep 2024 — Leave a comment

Goodsprings’ fun new single shows the band continuing to develop, with an almost big band feel to this swinging ska tune.

Injecting playfulness into your songwriting is the key to producing amazing, fun music, and Goodsprings have done exactly this on their new single, Lo Mejor De Lo Mejor.

It’s fortunate that they’ve managed it with the English translation of the title of the track literally meaning “The Best of The Best”.

The fun nature of the title runs throughout the track, which combines elements of ska, jazz and reggae to produce a lively swing song.

This playfulness is also reflected in the lyrics, which are delivered with a cocky snarl, mirroring the song’s message as a love letter to those who don’t care to fit in.

This unpredictability is an element of the song I thoroughly enjoyed, keeping me on the edge of my seat.

Combined with the big band atmosphere, this leads to delightfully, quirky results, particularly evident in the breakdown of the track, where the group engages in a scat-like section over a tight bass groove.

I also wanted to praise the amazing brass work, which elevates the track to such a high level bringing a gorgeous flourish, particularly in the choruses.

Overall, this is yet another strong track from Goodsprings, building on their good work from their previous single, Horrors. The fusion of genres works well, producing a charming track with a unique energy. Make sure to check it out if you’re a fan of groups like Sublime or Slightly Stoopid.

The Black Rain & House Proud Bring A Night of Post-Punk Perfection to Sunderland’s The Ship Isis – Gig Review

17th Sep 2024 — Leave a comment

Friday night saw The Ship Isis in Sunderland play host to a great night of live music as post-punk band House Proud and gothic group The Black Rain took to stage to showcase the genre at its very best.

The gorgeous venue was a perfect choice for the evening, offering a selection of great craft beers and a warm, friendly environment. I’d never been before, but I’d definitely return if I’m ever in Sunderland.

The night was opened by House Proud, who hail from all across the North East. Their blend of post punk and noise rock was excellent and really got the night started in the right way.

Their sound carried influences from post-punk groups like The Chats, Squid, and Shame, with angular riffs and an energetic tempo driving their performance. Each track stood out with careful composition, crafted from an array of different guitar pedals that brought a near studio-quality sound.

Their third song, Farmers Village, soon to be released as a single, had shades of post-punk titans IDLES to it and was a particular treat. Recent single Rescue Dog finished the set off in the right way, sounding a bit like South London’s Shame, but with an even heavier emphasis on riffs and gloriously loud noise.

House Proud – Live at The Ship Isis, Sunderland

I particularly enjoyed Perfect Body, which was more melodic in its approach while still delivering the massive, bombastic sound that dominated their set.

Overall, their performance was amazing, and they will definitely be a band which I will be keeping an eye on going forward.

I also wanted to leave a link to Wearside Women In Need, a domestic violence service the group were raising funds for on the night. They have recently lost their funding, so it’s a worthy cause if you can support it!

Next were The Black Rain, who I previously covered back in March at their gig at the Bunker, where they really impressed me with their gothic post-punk.

Friday was no different with the group putting in yet another excellent performance of starkly dark tracks. The group have been hard at work since March and that could be seen in their performance with various new songs in the set which continue to show why the band are so special.

Despite the stark nature of their sound, The Black Rain‘s set fizzed with energy, with the thumping drums and bass keeping the atmosphere lively.

The bass was particularly impressive, adding depth to the performance, while the guitar lines often served as beautifully intricate embellishments.

However, when the guitar did come to the fore, it was really impressive, often bringing an almost synth-like sound to certain tracks, which was a real treat. Shadows Cry showcased this best, amplifying the gothic feel, reminiscent of Joy Division’s Closer LP.

I also enjoyed the dark ’80s vibe of Regression, which really opens up in the chorus, creating a really nice feel. Glass Box brought a lot of energy leaning more on the side of punk rather than goth which I found really enjoyable.

Overall, both bands put in a fantastic performance, which led to a really enjoyable night showing the various different styles of post punk each performed at a really high standard. Make sure to check them both out!

Citizens of Yeah! Deliver a New Wave Masterpiece with “3 Little Piggies” – Single Review

12th Sep 2024 — Leave a comment

Combining a range of New Wave and indie influences, Citizens of Yeah! have produced yet another great single in 3 Little Piggies.

From the intro alone, I can hear the influence of The Smiths and New Order, particularly in the the sound of the synth strings, which reminded me a lot of There Is A Light That Never Goes Out.

The string flourishes throughout give the track a strong New Wave feel, adding an extra edge to the overall production.

Paired with sharp guitars and intricately gorgeous bass lines, this is an absolute treat. I particularly enjoyed the guitars in the chorus which fizz with excitement, contributing to the multiple satisfying payoffs in the track.

Lyrically, the track is quite unique, using the concept of the three little piggies in Red Riding Hood as a metaphor for fear which I found inventive in just the right way.

I particularly enjoyed the breakdown at the end of the song, with a great back-and-forth between the backing vocals and the main vocal, which reminded me of early ’80s post punk especially when paired with stark guitar tones. Overall, I loved the track and can’t wait to see what Citizens of Yeah! come up with next.