North East

Hannah Robinson Explores Dark Shoegaze on New Single “Who Am I” – Single Review

3rd Apr 2025 — Leave a comment

Hannah Robinson’s latest single Who Am I sees the Newcastle-based artist delve deeper into darker sonic landscapes.

Building on her dream pop background, Robinson further develops her sound on this release with a stunningly crafted piece of dark shoegaze.

Attention is paid to the atmosphere of the production from the very start, with the eerie, dreamlike nature of the distant backing vocals. This is immediately split by a clean, driving bassline which propels the track towards its chorus.

The rhythm section is stark within the mix, set against the hazy canvas it’s painted upon. This atmosphere is built via beautiful vocal layering, used excellently throughout the track to fill out the sound.

However, great production isn’t all the single has at its core. Who Am I is just a great piece of songwriting, acting as a character study into narcissism and the delusions of past lovers. This culminates in the explosion of a chorus that packs a musical punch.

Overall, if you’re a fan of groups like Wolf Alice or NewDad and love dark, hazy indie rock, you’ll get a lot out of this incredible track. You can catch Hannah Robinson at Munro Festival in Stockton in June and can find her Instagram here.

Daniel Maple Delivers a Bittersweet Christmas Folk Gem – Single Review

23rd Dec 2024 — Leave a comment

Daniel Maple has taken his brand of folk balladry and filtered it through a beautifully bittersweet Christmas lens.

This folky Christmas tune shows Maple at his best, demonstrating his talent with a guitar in his hand.

He weaves a beautiful finger-plucked melody throughout this song, providing a strong backing to the complex narrative.

Using Christmas imagery to tell an emotional story, Maple truly displays his songwriting chops on the tune, which reminded me a lot of Jeff Buckley.

If you’re looking for something fresh this Christmas, why not give it a listen!

Frazer Lambert Delivers Soulful Brilliance with Latest Single, Renaissance – Single Review

10th Nov 2024 — Leave a comment

The latest single from Frazer Lambert shows the Stockton singer-songwriter at their best bearing his soul to gorgeously rich results.

Opening with an ornate brass section, the influence of the likes of Al Green and Marvin Gaye is immediately evident, with a soulful feeling woven throughout the track.

All of this combines to bring a very chilled vibe, placing the emphasis on Lambert’s excellent vocals.

Performed exquisitely, these vocals are both personal and calming, allowing the track to hit the heights.

Overall, this track brings a great ’70s soul vibe, which is incredibly pleasing to the ear. If you’re in the mood for something with a lot of heart, this one is for you.

Middlesbrough’s Boy Found Sound Delivers Haunting Emotion and Atmosphere in New Single “Monochrome” – Single Review

17th Oct 2024 — Leave a comment

Boy Found Sound’s latest single is a heartbreakingly beautiful track, which further showcases the Teesside artist’s incredible songwriting talent.

The ethereal-sounding track has a chilled production, beginning with a great guitar line that shines above a well-crafted drum machine beat.

Lyrically, the track confronts loss, with Boy Found Sound laying everything bare throughout, producing an amazing set of deeply personal lyrics.

When the chorus comes along, it really pops, backed by an ethereal-sounding synth that adds to the track’s cold production.

As the song progresses, the drum machine is replaced by a slow, pounding drum beat, bringing a new energy to the track.

Overall, this is another really strong song from Boy Found Sound, combining a range of influences together to produce something both beautiful and original.

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.

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.

Boy Found Sound Delivers Americana-Tinged Indie Pop Brilliance on ‘Ultraviolet- Single Review

20th Aug 2024 — Leave a comment

Boy Found Sound’s latest single is a touching indie pop ode, featuring gorgeous production and well-constructed songwriting.

The track sets off like a runaway train, bringing with a nice Americana feel reminiscent of the likes of Bruce Springsteen and The War on Drugs, with its combination of acoustic guitar with beautifully reverbed riffs layered on top.

With the mood set, Boy Found Sound is free to write touching verses about a girl with ultraviolet eyes, over the top of this musical bed.

Musically, the track acts like a continuous train of thought, with no let-up throughout the tune and only subtle changes in tempo between the verse and the chorus.

This momentum only pauses for an amazing guitar solo, which reminded me a lot of Sam Fender with its reverb-heavy distortion and brilliant technicality.

Overall, this is a great song that has been meticulously put together. If you’re a fan of Sam Fender, then this is for you!

Electric Circus Strikes Hard with Their Latest Anthem, ‘War Crimes’ – Single Review

12th Aug 2024 — Leave a comment

Electric Circus’s new single goes hard. With its massive production and hard rock riffs, the single comes together as a thoroughly satisfying package.

From the outset, you’re greeted with a punch of distortion, with guitar lines layered on top of each other, each contributing to the cacophony of noise the band is creating.

These are joined in the mix by a thumping drum track, adding even more power to the track, building the hype before the vocals kick in.

Lyrically, the song addresses the current societal decline that the Western world is experiencing, with references to the Doomsday Clock amongst other pointed commentary the band makes.

This unfolds over an ever-steady blend of riffs that complement the track’s thematic focus.

The overall effect is reminiscent of rock titans like Queens of the Stone Age and Foo Fighters, with a nod to heavier groups such as Bring Me the Horizon.

The expertly executed breakdown towards the end of the track particularly brought to mind some of those heavier groups, sounding primed for a live setting.

Overall, this is a great rock track that skilfully combines a variety of influences. If you like your riffs hard, then you’ll love this single.

J.W. Darwin Delivers a Gorgeous Indie Pop Anthem with ‘Jenny Moves Slow’ – SINGLE REVIEW

7th Aug 2024 — 1 Comment

J.W. Darwin’s first solo release sees the Middlesbrough singer combine catchy melodies with a gorgeous sonic palette to produce a stunning indie pop single.

Beginning with a gorgeously rich textured synth line that fills the sonic canvas, Darwin builds an atmosphere that showcases his heart-on-sleeve approach to songwriting.

The result is a hearty dose of indie pop reminiscent of singer songwriters such as Hozier. The big pop chorus feels earned by the careful preparation that Darwin takes to build the tension within the verses, fulfilling the melodic potential of the track.

Attention has been paid to ensure the songwriting keeps you on your toes, with a tempo shift in the second verse accompanied by a bright guitar line dancing throughout.

Overall, the catchy melodies and smart production make this a great track to check out.