Neal Dean delivers a stunning and deeply introspective release with ‘Above The Water’. The track instantly enchants the listener, built around wonderfully soft guitar lines and an incredibly delicate vocal delivery that feels completely angelic. Transcendent from its opening moments, it effortlessly sweeps you away to another world. Captivating and effortlessly addictive, it’s a breath-taking piece of music that begs to be put on repeat. For something completely different and an immediate jolt of adrenaline, Bad Moon’s ‘Carry Me Now’ is an instant punch of excitement. Blending punk rock energy with pop-punk catchiness and sharp, commanding vocals, the track’s heavy and fast-paced soundscape hits you like a shot of caffeine on a Monday morning. In fact, it might just be the only thing on earth powerful enough to convince me to go for a run, it is quite literally the ultimate running anthem.
Smug Brothers return with ‘Extra All The Time’, a fun and melancholic release driven by a soft pop-rock sound and hazy vocals. Sounding tailor-made for a cinematic movie soundtrack, the track hints at brilliant influences from bands like Interpol and earlier alternative heavy hitters that sit right on the tip of the tongue. It is upbeat, deeply engaging, and undeniably, wonderfully fun from start to finish. Ahdim’s ‘Mystery Girl’ is immediately charming, anchored by soft, warm-like-honey vocals that are as sweet as they are inviting. While it leans into a more continuous, flowing rhythm rather than heavy syncopation, a brilliant recurring line drives the track forward, turning it into an anthemic earwig that lingers long after it ends. If you ask me, it possesses that timeless cinematic quality that would have felt right at home on The Breakfast Club soundtrack.
The Habit delivered something truly special for guitar lovers with ‘The Marches’. Driven from the off by incredibly slick guitar lines and strong, goth-leaning vocals, the track unfolds as a soft, slow-paced, Halloween-esque journey. Brimming with intricate instrumentation and a haunting tempo reminiscent of Within Temptation, they bring a sleek goth-rock sound to the ears that instantly transports me back to my sixteen-year-old self and my long fringe. Add a sick goth-pop twist to the chorus, and you have a thrilling sonic journey from start to finish. Rounding things out with another soft and soothing release, Miles Taylour delivers the ultimate calming weekend anthem on his latest single, ‘Right Track’. The message is confirmed loud and clear as he repeatedly sings, “we’re heading down the right track baby my love,” wrapping the listener in a warm, comforting embrace that makes it an effortless addition to any lazy Sunday playlist.
