Nina Schofield – ‘Colours EP’ [Review]
As we noted after seeing her live set, Guildfordian songstress Nina Schofield is a star in the making.
This four song set serves only to confirm that statement. Read more…
Nanaki – ‘Afterlight’ [Review]
In a world so dominated by and dependent upon the Internet, Afterlight‘s opening tune Antisocial Media is a uniquely intriguing musical statement. Its followers are no less effective: Vocal-free and well produced, each track manages to capture the thoughts, ideas and insights associated with its respective title while working as a downbeat but welcoming piece of music. Read more…
Dirty Loops – ‘Loopified’ [Review]
Although YouTube is home to a vast number of musicians of note, few bands have demonstrated YouTube’s marketing power as efficiently as Dirty Loops. A Swedish power trio whose fusion-flavoured take on Lady Gaga’s mega-hit Just Dance catapulted them into the online eye, Dirty Loops’ YouTube channel has attracted over 100,000 subscribers and 15.5m views while being home to just ten videos. Not bad for a group known as much for their collective technical abilities as their song-related skills.
Make no mistake – Dirty Loops are a musician’s band. Every track on Loopified is a compositional and technical masterclass, and no self-respecting muso is likely to run out of inspiration here. But what really sets Dirty Loops apart is their ability to appeal to a wider crowd. Read more…
Jack Barnett – ‘Keeping Time’ [Review]
Sweet, lilting atmospheres and nuanced, intimate vocals. A fantastic understanding of dynamics, understated instrumentalism, well-crafted lyrics and massive repeatability. The support of a great producer who knows exactly how to bring out the best in a worthy artist, and elicit just the right shades of emotion in the end product’s listeners. Read more…
Yuval Ron & Residents Of The Future – ‘Residence Of The Future’ [Review]
Open any book on increasing your productivity, and you’ll find this ubiquitous piece of advice: “Never check your email in the morning.” It’s often backed up with a statement along the lines of “Email is the mind-killer.” Not just any mind-killer, but the mind-killer.
Perhaps my inbox is unique, then. The messages it contains consistently offer me the opportunity to expand my mind, not blunt or damage or kill it. This is, definitely, partly due to Gmail’s super-effective spam filters (no more “COLLECT YOUR NIGERIAN LOTTERY WINNINGS” subject lines), but it’s mainly due to messages from musicians like Yuval Ron.
Yuval Ron’s music manages to make you listen and think without draining your mental energy. It’s complex, multifaceted and intricate, yes – but there’s something refreshing and cognitively nourishing buried in there. An appreciation of the need for space, a permission given for the music to breathe and really come to life. Read more…
Alon Tamir – ‘I Was Mad, Now I’m Sorry’ (Feat. Yogev Gabay) [Review]
Imagine where we’d be without experiments. Without theories, tests, trials and errors. Without curiosity and creativity. The world would be a dull place indeed. Just imagine how many scientific discoveries and artistic “eureka!” moments would have been missed.
Now listen to this track. Thanks to the efforts of creative people the world over, we get to have experiences like this. How awesome is that?! Read more…
Martha Paton – ‘Suitcase Full of Stories EP’ [Review]
Martha Paton is a fantastic songwriter – and more than anything else, Suitcase Full of Stories is a simple and unassuming demonstration of that fact. Read more…
Hannah Dorman – ‘Do You Wanna Play?’ [Review]
Guildfordian promoters Genrebomb have a serious eye for talent. Those of you who missed last Tuesday’s show at the Boileroom need to catch up, and quick, because each of that night’s three acts are set for bright futures. Main support Following Foxes already have their eyes set on stadium stages, while Martha Paton is going to prove a dream come true for some lucky publishing house. And judging from her professional and well poised live set – not to mention this EP – Hannah Dorman is going to be right up there alongside them. Read more…
Following Foxes – ‘Almost Lost It’ [Review]
Tunes like this make me proud to live in Guildford. Read more…
Falsense – ‘One Tonne Skeleton’ [Review]
The secret to effective writing is to omit unnecessary words. So the words that follow are the only ones you need to read.
Falsense is a fucking genius. Read more…