V V Brown has No Fear. The new single which also features Liam Bailey is undeniable. There’s a nostalgic brilliance, vibrating with an essence of vintage Motown inspired soul and how the underground infected Al Green and Marvin Gaye, lending to how they updated their catalogs in the seventies. We also hear remnants of Raphael Saadiq’s early 2000’s comeback vibe and recent adaptations familiar to Leon Bridgers.
The references serve to illuminate No Fear’s elusive nature. Familiar but impossible to emulate, the aura is tied to instincts and heritage as much as it is an understanding of its construction. Not just to write these words but to sing them with a conviction that rings with truth. In this manner soul music has done a lot to spread truths about injustice and oppression in ways leaders haven’t been able to communicate. Get lost in the vibe and let the music move you, but don’t forget what it took to get here. V V Brown doesn’t, and those values are at the essence of her work. Honor that.
No Fear is featured on our Best New Indie Playlist.
Olivia Reid is catching on. The artist caught our attention with a string of singles dribbled out in advance of her now released EP TO BE NAMED BY THE PEOPLE. The six tracks found within showcase her compositional touch and the soft electro pulse permeating from her collective vibe, an affect she initially certified on her breakthrough Runner’s High.
Madness duality that closes the EP digs deeper into this emotive dream state, with Act I channeling the aura of the XX with some Sylvan Esso style urban flash. Its entirely seductive and entrancing, as you lose yourself to her intoxicating calming nature. With Act II + III she gives herself to the chaos and adds to her acquired complexity and concept. Don’t box Olivia Reid in. Her layers serve her well within a crowded indie field hooked on innovation. We’re already fans and we can’t wait to see where she goes from here.
Olivia Reid is featured on our Best New Indie Playlist.
Pink Sky honors their namesake with the expressive imaginative journey that is their new expansive 11 song album Disenchantment. The project scans the electro spectrum with progressive appeal. Every is explosive.
They channel the aura of Radiohead on the cinematic single Decade Zero. They wander into a realm of industrial influenced electro pop on the St Vincent style single Dearest Despair. They wander into dark emotional worlds with intriguing duets throughout, like the notable dramatic swing heard on I’m Breaking. Displaying a flair for the theatric, the dramatic builds come in tandem. They erupt with epic appeal within the explosive outro heard on Disenchantment, and they add a visual element (see video above) to amplify their intentions.
The raptures resolve just as fast as they enwrap you. It’s a testament to their conceptual nature as the art pieces heard throughout resonate like unique musical worlds. Tied together by their decadent voices, Pink Sky capture a hypnotic essence best served complete if you want to get the full experience. It’s meant to move you and take over your imaginative headspace. Every drop serves to stimulate your senses and the brevity of the movement, as with the story of our lives it’s whats internal that’s most striking.
Pink Sky are featured on our Best New Indie Playlist.
Neanderthal takes on a heartless trend with their recent QUIET QUITTING. The genuine conjured emotional plight embodies the cruelty of this cowardly practice. The concept is inflated by a gorgeous arrangement and composition overall.
Both the guitar work and impressive production that accompany it land entrancing. There’s an adapted influence of emo heard in the melodic instincts, an affect that could draw similarities to current buzz rocker Petey. Thats a good place to be, we love this vibe.
Neanderthal are featured on our Best New Indie Playlist.
The Wild Is Calling 