We’re only a few weeks in, and this summer’s one of the hottest in memory. Been a lot of great tunes to accompany it though. Here’s a few from this week.
TRACK OF THE WEEK: Charly Bliss – Waiting For You
Another piece of alt-pop gold from the likes of Charly Bliss with this sugary-sweet love song, ‘Waiting For You.’ Eva Hendricks’ voice is undeniably captivating, sliding along perfectly with some earworm-worthy electric guitar. The track feels both textured and light, achieving the bubbliness of a great pop song alongside the fullness and edge of a rock song, resulting in an audience’s bliss…or dare we say, Charly Bliss. [RG]
Also new this week…
Illuminati Hotties – Power
The title track from Illuminati Hotties’ upcoming record, Power, is a sweet, simple tune about the power of a loved one, who’s strength is the superhuman ability to keep ‘Taking on all my dumb s**t/Wrapping it in your velvet.’ Oh, love. The crisp, quick drum beat and sliding arrangement of strings make an otherwise uncomplicated song a beautiful piece, while still keeping it just under a clean three minutes. [RG]
Morgan Rickman – I Will Wait
Flowing and yearnful, ‘I Will Wait’ is a fuzzy tune that inspires contemplation. The first release from Morgan since 2022, this single has been a long time coming. The lyrics feel almost stream of consciousness and quite vulnerable, Morgan even revealed that he ad-libbed one of the alternative choruses during a show and decided to run with it. The song also features a guitar solo from the artist himself, who is an amazing guitarist in his own right. I think this one is perfect for those hazy late nights. [CC]
Laura Marling – Patterns
When I first discovered Laura Marling’s debut, Alas, I Cannot Swim, back in 2008, I was obsessed. It was clear right away she had something special, and the follow up two years later matched in beauty. She lost me a bit with later releases, but latest single ‘Patterns’ seems to be more aligned with these first two records, focused primarily on a fingerpicked, nylon guitar and Marling’s signature vocal delivery. It’s a beaut. [TJ]
Wunderhorse – Silver
Passionate and unqiue, Wunderhorse never fails to suprise me. ‘Silver’ is no exception. These boys know their sound through and through, and you can sense their comfortability in experimenting. Each of their rock tunes are filled with, frankly, brutal lyrics. ‘Silver’ is perhaps the most lyrically heavy track out of the last three singles that they have released so far. Their upcoming new album, Midas, is easily one of my most anticipated for the year. [CC]
Current Joys – California Rain
Their first music since the LOVE + POP era, Current Joys are completely switching up their sound with new track, ‘California Rain.’ Vulnerable, raw-edged vocals reminiscent of tracks like ‘Walk Away as the Door Slams’ remains a constant, but the swelling chorus of strings and piano is a drastic departure from previous music, thrusting the band into a more rock-based sound. Ending with nearly three minutes of instrumental, this track is definitely a intriguing glimpse of what’s to come for the new album, East My Love. [RG]
Everyone Says Hi – Only One
The new single from Everyone Says Hi harkens back to the days of The OC, when beachy indie fell under the radar, and bands like The Killers and Death Cab For Cutie were just on the precipice of what came next. I guess that’s a pretty good omen for this lot, isn’t it? [TJ]
Declan Carrier – A Second
‘A Second’ is a strong pop-rock tune that holds a miscellany of emotions and thoughts. Declan was inspired by his reflections on the 2020 pandemic, and the song contains raw and insightful lyrics like ‘I just want a second because I’m sick of being lonely‘. ‘A Second’ crescendos into a beautiful guitar solo that feels perfectly chaotic, incapsulating the messy feelings of isolation and injustice that Declan sings about. Songs like these are my favourite; incredibly fun, upbeat, and full of deeper meaning. [CC]
Contributor Key:
[TJ] TJ Foster, [RG] Rory Graham, [CC] Cat Campbell
