Not Another Music Blog.: July 2018

Thursday, 19 July 2018

Track Review: Olivver The Kid - 'Overreacting'

'Overreacting' is the new tune from ex-The Neighbourhood drummer Bryan Sammis. After a year-long hiatus, LA-based Sammis is back with his solo project Olivver The Kid and a new EP to boot.

The disco-influenced, super electronic track is a short but sweet slice of 80s infused, sun-drenched pop. The track pulses at an upbeat pace throughout with tambourine driven percussion and synth arpeggios that add to the driving nostalgia of 'Overreacting'.

Sammis says, "the song is about realising the normalisation of art around you. Knowing that artists and peers are capable of showing so much more emotion if they just let themselves go, rather than what they are supposed to do".

The vocals on 'Overreacting' are brilliant, especially on the verses where Sammis shows his knack for a fantastic melody that is as infectious as any other. The control he shows when transitioning from falsetto to full voice is incredible.

On 'Overreacting', Sammis cranks the nostalgia up to the max and the impeccably produced track benefits so much from this. It's short running time ensures people will go back time and time again. This is definitely one for summer, especially with those amazing guitar leads towards the end.

'Overreacting' is out now on the new 'Ego Surfin' EP.

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Track Review: Honey Moon - '(Why Do You Think You're So) Special?'

We've been on to Honey Moon for a while here at Not Another Music Blog. Their jangly croon influenced indie-pop is the stuff of brilliance and the perfect accompaniment to this never-ending British heatwave we seem to have found ourselves in. '(Why Do You Think You're So) Special?' is the London-based bands latest single after a two-year break from the airwaves and first through indie label Heist or Hit.

Honey Moon's 50s and 60s pop influences shine brightly in the opening stages of the song. Walking basslines, surf-tinged guitars, wistful backing vocals and skittish drums all combine to create a throwback sound harking back to the doo-wop era's of early American and British pop.

The introduction of Jack Slater Chandler's dreamy and incredibly controlled falsetto adds another element of finesse before the band crank up the intensity in the chorus. Melodically this track is up there with some of the best indie music we've heard all year. The "I don't know if I could ever stop loving you" refrain is so catchy and sweet that it'll have you singing it all day long.

The craftsmanship of the song is a wonder with each musical element perfectly formed to build a sound that is not only timeless, it's also incredibly refreshing. Produced by Alex Greaves at The Nave in Leeds, the way 'Special?' builds to the final brass filled stages is a joy and the dynamic grandiosity of the outro makes us want to return time after time.

Have love songs ever sounded better? We think not.

On '(Why Do You Think You're So) Special?', Honey Moon has returned with a perfect slice of doo-wop indie-pop perfection. With songs like this, Honey Moon is reaching for the stars and it won't be long before the four-piece really make a name for themselves. Time to take note.

Upcoming Live Dates
20th July – Truck Festival, Oxfordshire

'(Why Do You Think You're So) Special?' is out on all good streaming services now or you can listen below.

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Wednesday, 18 July 2018

Track Review: Taylor Janzen - 'Stations'

'Stations' is the new hauntingly beautiful single from 19-year-old Winnipeg singer-songwriter Taylor Janzen. Taking influence from Not Another Music Blog. favourites Phoebe Bridgers, Julien Baker and Snail Mail, Janzen fuses highly emotive lyrics with sparse guitar-driven instrumentals.

The song opens with a minimalistic finger picked guitar part before Janzen's evocative and dulcet vocals are introduced. The lyrics are incredibly personal as the Canadian based artist aims to break the silence about abuse.

Turning to songwriting as an outlet to express her feelings instead of religion, Janzen says "'Stations' is about the isolating and complicated feelings when one experiences psychological abuse from a loved one regardless of the nature of their relationship".

Janzen's voice is incredibly endearing. Her use of melodies and dynamics makes ensure 'Stations' sounds fresh and interesting throughout. On this new single, Taylor Janzen has released a stunning effort that is both lyrically and musically fantastic. The slow build guitars and layered backing vocals, as well as the lyrical content, ensure this is one of the most heartbreaking tracks we've heard this year so far.

'Stations' is out now and Janzen's debut EP 'Interpersonal' is released on the 10th of August 2018.

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Tuesday, 17 July 2018

Track Review: Jerskin Fendrix - 'Swamp'

It's fair to say, this is one of the best songs of 2018 so far. It's incredibly bonkers and beautifully composed. Born in Birmingham, Fendrix has been playing a fair number of solo shows at the iconic Windmill in South London's Brixton. Supporting everyone from Jerkcurb and Black Midi to Goat Girl, Fendrix has made quite the name for himself with his unique live performances. Fendrix is also a member of the incredible London band Famous who we featured a few months back.

Fendrix's third single 'Swamp' opens with an industrial influenced, hard-hitting electronic beat that drives the track throughout. Fendrix's thick baritone vocal contrasts perfectly with the sparse hi-hats in the verse before the distorted bass notes warp into euphoric trance-like synths hits.

Fendrix's incredibly unique sound does borrow elements of current pop music, whether it be lyrically ('No one man should have all that power', taken from Kanye West's 'Power') or musically where influences are taken from Grimes and commercial pop legend Carly Rae Jepsen. These moments give 'Swamp' a brilliant sense of familiarity which is bound to resonate with a wide audience despite the songs insane production.

The highlight of the track comes when Fendrix really shows his vocal emotions. The way the song builds to this moment is near perfection with the euphoric synths returning and the beat dropping out before the real pop magic is introduced. One slight criticism is that this section is far too short, or that it doesn't return. It's so good it just keeps us wanting to come back for more. The song then trails off into a subdued section that slowly pitches down and down before reaching a brilliantly dense finale.

This track is incredibly ambitious whilst also keeping itself grounded in accessible pop roots. It's jam-packed full of surprises and musical moments of real perfection. With tracks like this, Jerskin Fendrix is really throwing down a marker. We can't wait to hear what's still to come.

Watch the amazing video for 'Swamp' directed by Peter Price below.

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Tuesday, 10 July 2018

Track Review: Nic Pool - 'The Falls'

‘The Falls’ is the debut single of singer-songwriter Nic Pool, and boy what a great way to start a career in music.

The track is a tale of woe, twisting and turning down the spiral of grief whilst being beautifully supported by sublime and often ethereal vocals. This is most evident on the introduction to the track, which takes the form of a pitch-shifted soliloquy about unrequited love whilst swirling white noise descends on the listener. It must be said, it’s strange to have this upfront as the first thing people will hear, but it definitely sets the tone for the rest of the song.

From there, it launches into various sections where Nic demonstrates his impressive vocal ability. There’s a fantastic tone to his vocal delivery, you can almost hear the anguish that has resided inside for so long, before being awoken and thrust out into a microphone for everyone to hear. With lyrics like “got a pretty face, but one day you’ll be old”, you know that a heartfelt vocal like this comes from genuine loss, which is just undeniably powerful.

Vocals aside, the whole thing is underpinned by wonderful instrumentation, courtesy of Elliot Jacobson. Eerie guitars drenched in reverb reinforce the thematics of the lyrics whilst an staccato electronic piano keeps the rhythm at a steady pace. The sound design present throughout is a work of outstanding artistry that subtlety fills the gaps whilst simultaneously complementing the subject matter.

Basically if you want to hear the inner monologue of grief in musical form (whilst not being overtly morbid at any point), then this is the track for you.

Nic Pool’s debut single 'The Falls' is available now.

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Thursday, 5 July 2018

Track Review: Dead Naked Hippies - 'Guillotine'

Leeds post-punk trio Dead Naked Hippies return with their first single of 2018 titled 'Guillotine'. Fronted by the incredibly charismatic Lucy Jowett, the band played a sold-out show at Live at Leeds which lead to a massive slot at the iconic Leeds Festival in 2017. Joe Clarke on guitar and Jacob Marston on drums complete the lineup of one of the most exciting young bands in the North.

Produced and mixed by Matt Peel (Pulled Apart By Horses, Eagulls, Menace Beach) the track opens with a ghostly guitar riff accentuated by rolling drums that build as the track progresses. The verses of the track are a more subdued affair whilst mayhem ensues in the choruses.

"'Guillotine' is an exploration of grief” the vocalist explains,“It’s the fine line between wanting to retaliate to someone who has caused you to hurt, versus choosing to cut out the dead weight they have created in your life.”

Credit: Andrew Benge

The emotions in the message are plain to hear in the music. The noisy performance of the band is infectious and is easily their most endearing trait. Each member's performance is meticulously crafted whilst still having that much sought after raw energy that people search for when listening to this genre.

The way the track ebbs and flows throughout is brilliant. Dead Naked Hippies' use of dynamics is a touch of class which is equally mirrored in their fantastic live performances. The final stages of 'Guillotine' are as epic as ever as the track builds to a super loud crescendo before instantly taking a step back and quietly falling away.

On 'Guillotine', Dead Naked Hippies have cemented their place in Leeds' burgeoning live music scene with this perfect slice of post-punk noise.

Listen to 'Guillotine' below or on all good streaming sites now.

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