Monthly Favourites #25

January seems to have gone on for ever, but finally we’re nearing the end of the month. That means that it’s time for another iteration in my Monthly Favourites series, which I’ve been looking forward to all month. If you’ve read the previous reviews in this series, you should know what to expect by now – each act listed here has their own merits, and a full playlist can be found at the bottom of the article.

Review by Jane Howkins

Photo by Adam Wedd

Adam Wedd – pink dinosaurs

First up is London-based singer-songwriter Adam Wedd with his amazing new track, pink dinosaurs. It’s probably best described as an alt pop song, also having a bit of a folk-rock vibe at times. It’s largely acoustic, featuring some gorgeous fingerpicked guitar melodies, although a distorted electric guitar occasionally makes an appearance. The music is fab, but the real focal point remains on Adam’s gorgeous vocals, which ae full of soul and heart here, singing to the music in a lovely way.

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Gianfranco GFN – Sunshine (And I had a dream)

It’s time to welcome back Swiss guitarist and composer Gianfranco GFN to these pages, with his amazing new tune, Sunshine (And I had a dream). It’s certainly a funky track, opening with a catchy guitar melody, fitting the upbeat rhythm section perfectly. The song also includes some whistling at the start, making it sound very unique. The vocals are a little distant in the mix, but they’re still prominent, playing perfectly to the instrumentation. The chorus is particularly catchy – find out for yourselves below!

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thurane – Redeemer

It’s quite rare that we share religious music on these pages, but Redeemer is so catchy that I couldn’t help but share it here! thurane is primarily a worship singer, although his music doesn’t sound like the stuff you’d normally expect from the scene. Redeemer is a bluesy folk-rock song with an irresistible sound, seeing thurane perform some interesting guitar licks, including a killer solo towards the end. It’s the sort of track that non-religious people can also enjoy, so please give it a whirl, even if you’re not into worship music.

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Cowboy Clean – Charcoal

New York act Cowboy Clean describe their music as ‘surrealist future desert vibes’, which is pretty apt if Charcoal is anything to go by! It’s pretty darn catchy though, despite the dream-pop elements, using a rhythmic guitar melody throughout the entire track, worming its way inside your head instantly. The backing guitars and synths sound really epic with the bass and drums, changing slightly as the music progresses. The vocals are pretty stunning too, adding a lot of character into the track.

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Seasonal Falls – Happy Dayz

We have another Swiss artist for you, in the form of indie-folk group Seasonal Falls. Happy Dayz is another dreamy song – particularly with the gorgeous vocal harmonies on offer here. It’s pretty slow in terms of tempo, seeing a pretty acoustic guitar melody drift through the music against the drums, with little piano motifs breaking off every so often. It’s a really lovely sounding piece of music, carrying a subtle beauty that will resonate many hours after listening to this glorious track.

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The Margaret Hooligans – Main Street Zulus

If you’ve been reading through our site for a while, you should be aware of The Margaret Hooligans by now. The Philadelphia band return with Main Street Zulus, one of the most unique tracks on this list! It opens with a busy set of tribal drums, as the raw vocals soar against them. The rest of the instrumentation kicks in after a while, with occasional distorted guitar licks tailing off, adding a cool sense of attitude into the piece. It’s pretty raw in terms of production, but it really works wonders with the style being cultivated here!

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Yon Idy – Blood Red

It’s extremely rare that we get to hear new music from Macedonia, so Yon Idy is very welcome indeed! Blood Red is a folky track, seeing the singer-songwriter integrate some eerie acoustic guitar melodies, crossing over each other in a glorious way. It’s actually pretty haunting at times, especially when the music is combined with Yon’s half-whispered vocal stylings. The main chord sequence chosen here is immense – particularly when the drums and electric guitars kick in on the chorus, making for something incredibly catchy.

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Gary Dranow – Bedroom Mentor

Closing things out nicely is Utah singer-songwriter Gary Dranow, an artist that we’ve featured before. Bedroom Mentor is possibly the heaviest song on this list, opening with a killer guitar riff. However, the verses change things up massively, instead introducing an acoustic guitar. This contrast in styles works perfectly, with the heavier chorus seeing Gary almost shouting the lyrics out. His voice is fantastic throughout though, soaring with power and strength as he passionately sings the vocals to Bedroom Mentor.

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