As time rolls on slowly towards the springtime, the nights are finally getting longer, putting the dreary winter weather to bed. If you’re finding this time of year a little depression, discovering some new music could be a good distraction! In this list, you’ll find an array of bands an artists from different scenes and nations, so there should be something suitable for every reader!
Review by Jane Howkins
Photo by Jakliu
Jakliu – Bye Gone Éire
Dublin electronic artist Jakliu returns to these pages with his new track, Bye Gone Éire. If you’ve read our other reviews of Jakliu’s music, you should know what to expect by now – it’s a chilled-out EDM, featuring a fast beat that is slightly at odds with the mellow piano that runs through the piece. It all works exceeding well together, especially when the vocals kick in, using some intriguing effects that will grab you attention on the first listen. The keyboards are the real stand out feature, sounding amazing throughout!
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Jack Simpson – Pentecost Again
Pentecost Again is a completely different proposition – it’s actually a religious track, but it’s beautiful enough that none religious people can enjoy it too. The track has a poppy, singer-songwriter vibe, seeing Jack Simpson sing along in lovely style to the piano and rhythm section that make up most of the music. The guitars have a ska-style vibe, fitting well with the prominent bassline and piano melodies. The chorus is also pretty darn catchy too, so don’t miss out on this amazing tune below!
Social media: Soundcloud, YouTube, Spotify
Giardini Oort – Dark Thoughts
Now it’s time for another electronic number, this time coming from Italian composer Giardini Oort. Dark Thoughts is an incredibly introspective piece of work, starting slowly with some otherworldly keyboard and synth effects. The bassline pulsates throughout the piece in a powerful way, as little motifs break off occasionally, building the music up into something extremely thought-provoking. It’s electronic music but performed in a more ambient manner than most EDM, making for a worthwhile listen for all!
Social media: Spotify, Soundcloud, Bandcamp, YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Twitter
Adam Wedd – THIS IS THE ONE
We’ve actually featured Adam Wedd fairly recently, so it’s great to have the British songwriter back in these pages again. THIS IS THE ONE is for those readers into their rock and roll – it’s upbeat from the very start, simply bursting out of the seams with energy. However, whilst the riffs and drums are fairly heavy at times, the track also has a great sense of melody, seeing Adam sing along soulfully to the main chord sequence. It’s a great all-rounder of a song, appealing across the genre lines.
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Luke Tangerine – You Spin Me Right Round (Like A Record)
It’s quite rare that we share cover songs here, but Luke Tangerine’s version of the track You Spin Me Right Round (Like A Record) (also featuring Carlos Udecca really caught my attention! It’s still got a classic synth-pop/post-punk vibe to it, but Luke has added a more modern twist into the track, turning it into something that straddles the decades perfectly. A slew of synthlines pulsate throughout the music against the high-pitched vocals, drawing attention to them instantly. You have to check this out if you like the original song!
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H2SO4 – Feed The Amp
Yep, that’s right, we have another electronic tune for you, this time from H2SO4. Feed The Amp very much has a modern EDM vibe, but it also hints at an array of retro genres, including disco, funk and house music, making for one awesome mic of sounds. The bassline is infectious, positively throbbing throughout the tune with the synths, following the beat perfectly. The vocals also have a rhythmic quality, pulsating in a really cool way as the music progresses. It won’t be for everyone, but it’s well worth a listen!
Social media: Spotify, Soundcloud
Edward Duvall – You
Edward Duvall is an Irish artist who normally performs acoustically. However, You sees him introducing an electric alt-rock sound into his music, as well as a poppy sensibility, making for quite a nice change! The palm-muted guitar melody runs throughout most of the track, as Edward’s amazing vocals follow the music. The chorus picks the pace up a little bit, changing the piece into something slightly more up-tempo, sounding catchy from the off. It’s a great track and one you should check out now!
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No Lonesome – Cool Waters
Finally, we have Chicago act Cool Waters, who we’ve also featured before! Cool Waters has an old school country rock/Americana vibe, with a more modern alt rock vibe mixed in for good measure, making for something really unique nowadays! The main guitar melody sounds simple yet it’s extremely infectious, drawing you in straight away. The vocals are also fantastic – they ebb and flow throughout the music, singing some amazing notes that will get under you skin within an instant. Definitely a must listen from me!
Social media: Spotify, Bandcamp, Instagram
Monthly Favourites – playlist by York Calling | Spotify