review

Citizens of Yeah – People’s Republic of YEAH Delivers Lo-Fi Complexity and Sonic Depth – ALBUM REVIEW

6th Feb 2025 — Leave a comment

With an elaborate production and intriguing lyrics, the latest album from Citizens of Yeah showcases a project pushing itself towards sonic greatness.

Citizens of Yeah is a musical project based in Ryton, nestled within the Tyne Valley, that has begun to build a reputation for their lo-fi yet complex production.

Over the course of the last few years, the project, led by Jonathan Womack, has slowly released a number of deeply intrguing singles and an album, Thermonuclear Warmth, back in 2023, combining strong songwriting with thoughtful bedroom production.

This is something which hasn’t changed with the release of the sophomore album, People’s Republic of YEAH, which once again places a strong emphasis on production – something that has been carefully considered throughout the ten track LP.

The unique production is evident from the first track, God is my right, where the listener is immediately greeted by crunchy guitars and massive-sounding drums. Lyrically, the song confronts wealth and empire, with an emphasis on taking lessons from the past – something that forms the refrain in the chorus.

The overall tone and vibe of the track reminded me of something from Blur’s 2003 album Think Tank, with a little bit of post-punk thrown in. The production comes across as both shabby and well-put together, maintaining a lo-fi mood that hides the production’s hidden complexities.

Kimberella has a touch of Radiohead to it, with pianos added to the mix. The track combines beautiful, twinkling synth bursts within the chorus before adding some crunch later on through the guitars.

These vibes continue into song 3, Lying on the tarmac, with its dark humour interwoven throughout its lyrics. The track’s long and winding melody acts as a complex path through the song, culminating in the chorus with its sharp lyrics.

Battenburg uncertainty principle switches up the vibe, bringing in huge-sounding guitars that add a lovely crunch to the track. This brings a ’70s rock feel, especially when combined with the trademark lo-fi production. Guitar lines are often left hanging and are messy in all the right ways, bringing a loose feel that gives the song a different twist.

The complex bridges see the distortion turned off in favour of twinkling, plucked guitar lines, illustrates Womack’s talent as a technical guitarist and a production master.

The bass is also a huge element of this LP, something particularly evident on the track Survival of the fittest, which pushes the bass to the forefront of the production. The result is a strong groove that runs throughout the record.

Under a lion’s head once again gave me Think Tank throwbacks, especially with the twinkly beginning, before heading down a more folk-inspired direction with intricate guitar lines that could have featured in a Bob Dylan track.

Next up is 3 Little Piggies, featuring fellow North East group Amateur Orthologist, whom we reviewed back in October. This track served as the lead single for the LP, and we previously reviewed it in detail last year. Within the context of the album, the song shines even more.

War Dogs keeps up the tempo with gorgeous guitar lines decorating the ends of each verse, whereas Theme song for episodic espionage caper brings a larger production to the table with a spy-themed twist.

The production uses brass-inspired synths to strong effect, giving the song a grand feel, and even includes a small melodic nod to James Bond at the end of the track, which I thought was a nice touch.

The epically named Orpheus and Eurydice is heavy on the acoustics but carries the same large-scale production from the previous track. It incorporates ghostly backing vocals and a fuller- bodied acoustic sound, which grinds to a halt for the chorus before building up again.

It is a fitting closer with a great feel, the emotion of the performance bleeding through. Overall, this is a strong sophomore effort with a lot of care and attention to detail. If you like your lo-fi indie, make sure to give it a try.

Labyrinthe Oceans Make Waves with Dreamy New Single, pinch – SINGLE REVIEW

16th Jan 2025 — Leave a comment

Labyrinthe Oceans’ latest single, pinch, perfectly teases their upcoming EP, home showcasing the band’s strong melodies and savvy production.

These three track single shows the band off at their very best, highlighting their dreamy sound while emphasising their even dreamier songwriting.

The first track, pinch, opens the single off in hazy fashion, with beautiful swirling melodies created by reverb-laden guitars. This swells into a gorgeous supernova in the massive, emotionally charged chorus.

The track illustrates the songwriting talent at the band’s core, conjuring thoughts of traditional dream pop bands such as Slowdive, as well as indie pop titans like Wolf Alice.

Labyrinthe Oceans
Labyrinthe Oceans – image by @gracroc (instagram)

Bass makes up a huge part of the EP and this is illustrated in the beginning of home, where the bass work shines. The massive bass notes perfectly build tension within the song, while the guitar lines are elaborate, dancing elegantly throughout. The entire track has a touch of The Cure to it.

Another huge chorus allows lead singer Julia O’Neill to show off her impressive vocal range, nailing the landing with ease.

untitled feels like a heavier version of The xx, with the bass and vocals intermingling perfectly before the song takes a change of direction as it builds. O’Neill delivers another strong vocal performance, selling the track perfectly with both emotion and control in equal measure.

Overall, this is a really strong collection of songs and serves as a great introduction to the band if you haven’t heard them before. By blending elements of rock, shoegaze, and indie, they create a gorgeous kaleidoscope of sound. Make sure to check it out!

Weathership’s Splendid Beast is A Masterclass in Atmospheric Indie Rock – Album Review

24th Nov 2024 — Leave a comment

The new album from Weathership sees the group honing their sound and producing a cohesive project that is pleasing to the ear.

From the first track, Golden Age, the band immediately sets out their stall, employing a groove- based rhythm section, intriguing synth sounds, and intricate, clean guitar lines to craft a distinctive sound.

A siren immediately greets you on the track with an extended intro which reminded me of The Cure without the gothic element. The use of space in the arrangement allows the guitar lines to shine.

The Blue continues in this vein, with some lovely bass lines building a lovely groove. The vocals on this track – and indeed throughout the album – are consistently strong.

The following track, Through the Fog, boasts a huge, beautifully constructed chorus, accompanied by expertly crafted guitar parts. New Occupation continues this with twinkling guitar parts layered over a groove-driven rhythm section, beginning with a delightful drum beginning.

The highlight of the album is Just a Ghost with a magnificent melodic chorus and engaging call-and-response within it. The result is a tight, catchy slice of indie rock.

The massive sound of the album runs throughout the last four tracks. On Electrolung there is more great production with jittering synth and an interesting drum machine. The track reminded me a bit of Radiohead.

Lost at Sea had a massive chorus and beautifully echoing guitar parts to beautifully decorate it before the massive stomping drums of The Swimmer.

Album closer, For The Dark Is Beautiful is a fitting closer, encapsulating everything the album excels at in a grand atmospheric conclusion.

Overall, this album is a fantastic listen for fans of massive sounding atmospheric indie rock.

Daniel Maple’s Gorgeous New EP Four Walls Displays His Raw Talent At It’s Best – EP REVIEW

16th Oct 2024 — Leave a comment

Combining experimentation with stark production, Durham’s Daniel Maple leaves no place to hide with his latest release.

From the first track, I Love You And I Hate Goodbye, it is immediately evident how much talent has gone into crafting this EP. With just an electric guitar and his vocals, the Durham singer-songwriter fills all available space with his songwriting talent and terrific singing voice.

The song opens with a gorgeous guitar flourish – something that runs throughout the EP – which sees Maple flex his rhythm and lead guitar skills, crafting complex and intricate melodies which are not immediately obvious to the ear.

Throughout, his guitar skills are matched by a set of defiant lyrics, which add an extra dimension to this beautiful track.

Crying In A Different Key uses musical metaphors to craft a creative set of lyrics that encapsulate Maple’s emotions. This lies atop an intricate rhythm guitar part fitted with a clean tone with an underlying bite.

A beautiful descending opening brings you into third track, Lewis, where Maple displays the strength of his vocals to really sell a touching track. This flows nicely into Waiting In The Catapult, which features a great chorus, with the Durham songwriter getting a lot out of a little.

On this particular track, I found shades of Elliot Smith alongside the influence of Bob Dylan which runs deep throughout the EP’s sharp lyrics.

Lonely Night takes a more full-bodied approach to the guitar work, weaving a beautiful love song that is capped off by a gorgeous set of yearning lyrics. It also features a great solo that illustrates Maple’s phenomenal guitar playing. This gives way to Easier Rider, which has a rockier feel, with more bite added to the guitar.

Closer War and Freedom features yet another complex melody, which still manages to sound warm, providing a gorgeous feel. Maple really saves the best for last, with the vocals delivering an epic performance worthy of the song.

Overall, this is a phenomenal EP that showcases what can be done with just an electric guitar and vocals. I really adored listening to every twist and turn.

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

Club Paradise Teases New EP with Summer Anthems ‘Years’ and ‘Chasing the Summer’ – SINGLE REVIEW

31st Jul 2024 — 1 Comment

Club Paradise have started the countdown to their new EP by releasing two great teaser tracks to whet the appetite before their October release.

The first of the two tracks, Years, starts with a bold guitar solo, which glides over a bright synth line.

The verses to the track builds the tension with reverby guitar swells intersecting a driving rhythm section which gains pace as it continues.

The chorus twinkles with a sparkly synth line driving the catchy eighties-inspired melody. It is here that you can hear the influence of bands like The 1975, as well as a range of other indie pop groups.

The song has a smart pop sense and a glittery production; but, it also knows how to deliver a punch with the crunchy guitar solos and dark lyrics, which contrast the light production.

Previous single, Chasing the Summer, has lofty ambitions, beginning with a huge intro featuring a big guitar solo and thumping drums.

The vocals immediately hit you and are delivered with passion and energy. These are joined by backing vocals in the verses, which once again reminded me a lot of The 1975.

The chorus is huge, with guitar lines which go hard over a thumping beat. Overall, the track is the epitome of an anthem with huge guitars and catchy melodies.

Together, these tracks do a great job of wetting the appetite for the upcoming EP, which arrives in October.

Big Romance’s New Single, ‘Self Medicate’ Blends Genres Beautifully – SINGLE REVIEW

21st Jul 2024 — Leave a comment

Big Romance’s latest single “Self Medicate” shows their ability to mix genres to excellent effect, blending shoegaze, indie and post-punk together in a rewarding mixing pot of gorgeous production and great songwriting.

Opening with a reverb-heavy 90s feeling introduction, I was immediately reminded of the Siamese Dream era Smashing Pumpkins with its dreamy production and vocals.

This is quickly interrupted by a laid back verse with a real slacker vibe, fitting well into the established vibe of the track.

The pre-chorus shifts gears as the distantly distorted guitar stalks the vocal melody with fuzzy distortion and precision.

Eventually, the tracks anticipation pays off, unveiling a twinkling guitar solo that reminded me of dream pop bands such as NewDad.

The spacious nature of the production throughout illustrates the band’s love of shoegaze whilst highlighting their focused songwriting.

The introspective lyrical approach that the track takes examines coping mechanisms and relationships with sharp lyrical quality.

When the chorus hits, it hits hard. I can hear the influence of Slowdive in the production through the heavenly feel brought by the backing vocals, and the swirling guitars drenched in distortion and reverb.

A crunching guitar solo fires through the crescendo of the track, adding an appropriate ending to the song, before its distortion blends into the mix, allowing the song to sail off into the sunset.

Overall, the song combines the best bits from various subsections of indie music, making it easy to get on board with production you can sink into and sharp songwriting.

Hannah Robertson’s ‘Blissfully Miles Away’: A Gorgeous Dream Pop Single with a Bite – SINGLE REVIEW

19th Jul 2024 — Leave a comment

Hannah Robertson returns with yet another gorgeously dark single, taking her dream pop sound in a more twisted direction.

Beginning in a realm of dreamy and hypnotic guitars, the track quickly awakens you with a rush of distortion and drums, bringing a gnarly edge to Robertson’s dream pop production.

The influence of groups such as NewDad and Slowdive is evident within the dreamy shoegaze-inspired production. However, an underlying darkness brings a nasty edge to the ethereal track, making it more dream rock than dream pop.

The anticipation built up through the verse explodes in the chorus, which musically acts as a dark counter balance to the airy intro.

Throughout the track, the performances and production are exceptional, helping build a dark, dreamy atmosphere with their crispness.

If you love groups like Wolf Alice and enjoy hypnotic, dreamy production, then this track is perfect for you!

Joyland brings the summer vibes on single, Leaving Tonight – SINGLE REVIEW

23rd Jun 2024 — Leave a comment

Joyland brings the summer vibes with their slick new single, Leaving Tonight. Combining a number of different influences, the track’s shiny production hides a set of yearning lovesick lyrics.

Hailing from Newcastle, the five-piece has slowly gathered momentum over a number of years, something evident in their latest single.

Over three sun-kissed minutes, the group cultivates a catchy yet sophisticated vibe, drawing from various influences in the indie and pop genres.

The piano opening of the track echoes The 1975‘s If You’re Too Shy (Let Me Know), with its stark, reverberated keyboard intro. This gives away to a guitar line washed in distortion and reverb straight out of the Sam Fender playbook.

The piano leads the track front and centre of the mix, alongside the amazing vocals, which are delivered with emotion and are well integrated into the track’s aesthetic.

As the buildup to the chorus begins, you can feel the band’s songwriting ability shining through as they expertly weave their way through the song, demonstrating their knack for producing a catchy indie pop melody.

The track’s strengths lie in its ebbs and flows, with various breakdowns building tension that is effortlessly released by the time of the chorus.

This gives way to a gorgeous guitar solo that sounds effortless. This is all enhanced by the excellent production, which boosts the track’s already strong songwriting.

This all leads to a really catchy, strong single from Joyland, perfect for the hazy weekends of festival season. The group are definitely ones to watch, and this is a bandwagon worth jumping on as they continue to head in one direction.