Brighton based indie rock band Wave Chase break through with the release of their new EP Second Best. Psych and indie collide with pop instincts within this stylistically catchy four song collection. Stand out single Second Time grooves with an inviting drive that draws you into this modern merry radical rock troop.
There’s a community feel to this project, a brotherhood accentuated by the feel good nature of these clever compositions. It bears a semblance of Foster the People or Spoon with some psych elegance in the sonic design. We also hear evidence of Brit Pop cult faves The Kooks, it’s a testament to the projects festive aura. They sound like they’re having a good time, a feature thats magnetic and suitable to help young bands build adoring fanbases. We see big things on the horizon for Wave Chase.
Hear Second Time now on our Best New Rock Playlist.
Monroe Moon flex their dark rock tendencies on the revelatory new single Navigator. The band admits to charting unassuming territories. We find them intriguing and delectable in any light. The mysterious persona of their lead vocalist reigns intact, and the brooding compositional flair resonates well within this vibe.
There’s evidence of shoegaze comingfrom this immersive sonic mix. We also hear some dark wave with the sheen stylistic synth leads, but at its essence Navigator is a proper alternative rock song with some classic appeal in the form of a timeless guitar solo. In that way it resonates with acts like Smashing Pumpkins and Garbage who had dense influential blends within an alt rock aesthetic.
Monroe Moon is working with notable producer Mike Exeter, who’s known to have updated the work of Judas Priest and Black Sabbath among others. From where we’re sitting, that looks like a match made in hard rock heaven.
Monroe Moon is featured on our Best New Rock Playlist.
Storm Franklin land iconic with their recent single The Fear. The dark moody vibe of their music is enough to draw us in, and Storm Franklin delivers brilliantly with the memorable tag line that is “This Is The Fear.” Like a trademark catalog moment the phrase lands familiar but impossible to place. It’s the kind of in studio revelation where the duo might have stopped and looked at each other simultaneously knowing they’ve hit indie rock gold.
They honor that creative gift with an noir comic book inspired music video (see above). Altogether it’s a great release from this emerging indie buzz project.
Hear The Fear now on our Best New Rock Playlist.
Americana Rock reigns supreme within the vibe of On Halloween, the new single from Espanola. The Canadian export effectively captures the essence of The Band, an elusive sound within this realm. It’s a testament to their convincing vocal aesthetic and how they work this compositional style into a rock aesthetic.
It’s a good song in any light, but we do prefer it within this passionate Rock inspired format. There’s a fair indie scope for comparison too, one that could offer references to Dawes or My Morning Jacket, but for us On Halloween rings more like a true classic. For that we are thankful.
Dig into On Halloween now on our Best New Rock Playlist.
The Wild Is Calling 