MARCH // APRIL

The snow has finished falling and the fridge is full of chocolate. Here are our latest music discoveries.

'HEADS IN THE CLOUDS' - NOËP [EP]

Estonian singer-songwriter and producer NOËP unveiled his debut EP 'Heads In The Clouds' on 22nd March.

'New Heights' is the first track on the EP and perfectly represents the musical direction of the debut record. The track itself is a cleverly produced electro-alt-pop tale of lost love.

Personally, one of my favourite tracks from the EP is 'Cold Medicine' - a soothing electro-tinged pop balled held together by fragmented beats, clicks and pops of emotion. 'Cold Medicine' uses the metaphor of a fever not being treatable with medicine to describe a relationship. 

One thing that is evident from listening to the five track EP is that NOËP is an expert in writing a memorable hook and pairing it with a strong, complimentary beat as well as someone who can successfully experiment with different genres. 

Another notable track on the EP is 'Offside' - a collaboration with British production duo Tough Love.  NOËP's smooth vocal sits on a bed of hypnotic bass-heavy house beats.

The EP ends with an R&B tinged tone on 'TV', experimenting with rap-influenced verses about dealing with fame and taking lessons from Kendrick Lamar:

'Like Kendrick said you better stay humble.'

NOËP has produced a truly interesting debut EP that is well worth a listen. 

MODERN STRANGERS [artist]

Picture Source: @TMStrangers on Twitter

Whilst watching a BBC documentary about how to make the perfect pop song (results inconclusive), I discovered Modern Strangers, a five piece indie-disco band from Kent, UK. The programme featured their song 'Margarita' and I was instantly hooked. With a pop sensibility, soaring synths mixed with funky guitar parts and a simple yet perfectly complimentary vocal - this song oozes summer. 

Upon further investigation, it appears that this summer vibe is a common thread amongst Modern Strangers tracks. 

Ahead of their debut EP release, the band have released  'She's So Cold'.

'She's So Cold' follows the theme in 'Margarita' but with arguably more meaningful lyrics, sung in a clearer tone. Very MGMT-esque. A common theme amongst Modern Strangers tracks is dance-ability - you can imagine a crowd letting go to these songs.

Another notable release is 'Coco Hello', a foot tapping, shoulder swaying, all round feel good track.

''Coco Hello, Up Close But Never Too Personal.
How I Try To Let You Know.
Coco Hello, The Conversation Goes On And On And On And On...'  

Enhanced by quirky percussion, shimmering synths and bright guitars, the chorus of this song will leave you humming for days.

I can imagine this band being incredibly exciting to watch performing live, so be sure to check them out on Soundcloud and follow them on Twitter to make sure you don't miss them in your city!


Until next time...

@wewantgoodmusic

Find all the music featured on this blog using our We Want Good Music Blog Spotify Playlist here.

F E B R U A R Y // M A R C H

February has brought us many new music discoveries from a range of sonically unique artists.

Here are our picks to get you in the mood for transitioning into spring.

BRETT

Hailing from Washington USA, dreampop quartet Brett specialise in creating hooks that will leave you humming for days.

I came across a relatively old Brett track and was instantly hooked. The track in question is entitled 'Modern Classic'.

Released in 2016, 'Modern Classic' is a guitar beat driven anthem. As the fourth of five tracks on the band's 'Die Young' EP, the track encompasses the tone of the EP - the dreamlike restlessness of youthful love and perhaps the regrets and opportunities surrounding it. 

Brett's sound has evolved in 2017 to showcase more socially aware themes and arguably a darker side.

New single 'Roman Candle' exhibits what is to come from this interesting group. Accompanied by 2017 release 'Emperor Tho', it is clear that the dreampop label may not be as suited to the band anymore. Although the catchy hooks remain, the new songs place an increased emphasis on the drumkit and guitar feedback to create a melodic sense of chaos as opposed to the synth layers we've heard previously. 

Brett release their new EP on 16th March - save the date. 

RICKY MONTGOMERY & THE HONEYSTICKS: 'OUT LIKE A LIGHT' [single]

Ricky Montgomery & The Honeysticks are an experimental indie pop band from Los Angeles, USA. The group credits its internet following to two of its members’ (Ricky Montgomery and Caleb Hurst) gaining notoriety on the app Vine. They are set to release their debut EP, 'The Honeysticks EP', on 23rd March (we can't wait!). As part of the debut, the group will be officially changing its name to The Honeysticks.

Today we're focussing on the track that led me to The Honeysticks - 'Out Like A Light' (2017).

If I were to summarise this track in one word it would be whispy. By this, I mean that you can picture a couple slow dancing in a faded reminiscent state. The song itself seems to be about the triumphs and tribulations of a relationship in a blurred fashion. This is aided by a steady simple drum beat and emotive vocal phrasing complimented by a distorted guitar solo and the sound of running water towards the end of the track.

Another Honeysticks track worth noting is 'This December', released in 2016 as part of the 'Montgomery Ricky' album. Incorporating some of the melodic elements of 'Out Like A Light', this track is a far more upbeat sounding, foot tapping effort. 

CAVETOWN: 'LEMON BOY' [album]

Cavetown is 'a 19 year old boy that wants to make music forever' - @cavettown.

Some have labelled Cavetown's genre as alternative bedroom pop, personally I don't think you can put a label on it. With elements of acoustic folk rawness mixed with the odd electronic beat and a dabble of piano - 'Lemon Boy' (2018) is a unique, atmospheric and refreshing album. 

The first single I heard from 'Lemon Boy' was the title track. Opening with a stripped down guitar and vocal combination, the metaphorical use of a lemon tree in the lyrics of this song make it rather unique. A relaxed beat mixed with an atmospheric bed of vocals makes this a perfect song to add to your wind down playlist (until the end which features a louder guitar solo but there's an acappella version to avoid that).

'Fool' is an interesting track as the techniques used on Cavetown's vocals differ to those utilised in the rest of the album. This adds another dimension to the song which, accompanied by a distorted beat, makes the song arguably more pop-like than others.

One thing that is evident from listening to the entirety of 'Lemon Boy' is that Cavetown has an ability to shape a song around a memorable chorus. I enjoyed seeing the progression in the album, with experimentation on some tracks that contrasted my initial impressions of Cavetown. 

Until next time...

@wewantgoodmusic

To hear all of the music featured on We Want Good Music follow our Spotify playlist here. 

J A N U A R Y

January.

Reality has reared its head after the idyllic bubble that is the festive season.

This is what we've been listening to.

The Recoupes: 'All I Know' [single]

THE RECOUPES ARE BACK.

Some of you may recall that we reviewed The Recoupes' EP last year which you can find here. The indie pop quartet are back with new single 'All I Know'.

Arguably slightly different in tone from the tracks we've previously heard from the band, 'All I Know' utilises tropical sounding energetic guitars reminiscent of a Model Aeroplanes vibe and has a hook that you'll be humming for days. We like.

The track is about frontman Alan Li's girlfriend and finding someone who believes in you and sees past your imperfections to devote your life to.

This feel good track oozes summer so is perfect to shake away those January blues!

We look forward to hearing more from The Recoupes.

Troye Sivan: 'My My My' [single]

Another artist coming into 2018 with new music is pop sensation and YouTuber Troye Sivan.

Following the success of debut album Blue Neighbourhood, 'My My My' begins with a 1975-esque synth quickly broken by the familiar tones of Troye's unique vocal. 'Oh my my my' - the hook that makes this track anthemic as it is repeated and layered over a bed of pitch shifted synths, r&b beats and vocals.

The video for this track perfectly embodies its message of being joyful and excited by a new romance, showing Sivan strutting around an empty warehouse oozing confidence. The flashing images shown in the video also compliment the pulsating beat driving the song.

After hearing this once you'll be hooked - much like any Troye Sivan song.

DECO - 'Chances' [single]

Hailing from Nottingham, UK, DECO successfully bridge the gap between pop sensibility and rich musicality in their take on indie-pop. Having spent 2017 building their reputation playing live around the country, including main stage performances at the likes of Y Not Festival, it is easy to see how the infectious energy present in their music would translate to the stage. 

Today we're focusing on the duo's track 'Chances', released last year. 

With a similar vibe to that of The Recoupes and Model Aeroplanes, bright guitars and an upbeat hook define this song. The song itself is about witnessing dishonesty within a relationship and consequently its breakdown but masked with an optimist 'look on the bright side' lyric.

We look forward to hearing new music very soon from this indie-pop force.

You can listen to DECO on Soundcloud here. 

Talos: 'Wild Alee' [album]

Image: Feel Good Lost Records

Hailing from Ireland, Talos marries a chilled vibe with emotive lyrics to create a very atmospheric sounding debut alternative pop album. Most of the tracks have a relatively slow/moderate tempo which makes this album perfect to listen to whilst studying.

'Odyssey' is one of the stand out tracks on 'Wild Alee'. A song about the cycle of self doubt, Talos' ability to shape emotion around lively electronic beats to create an epic track is demonstrated in this piece.

For an album mainly centred around synths, guitars and drums, the addition of a piano on 'Piece(s)' is a refreshing twist. This is the shortest and perhaps most beautifully blurred track on the album, a  haze of serenity. This is a song to get lost in.

'Tethered Bones' is another track that has a slightly different feel to the rest of the album, perhaps because it was in fact Talos' first single. With a more impatient sounding pulse throughout, swirling and building, momentarily broken by a piano part, then culminating into a vast sounding final chorus, the track ends with the clicking beat that first attracted my ear to this song.

If there is a narrative encompassing all tracks, it would be of the story of an epic journey told through emotive soaring vocals and polished production.

Until next time...

@wewantgoodmusic


Find all the music featured on WWGM here: We Want Good Music Spotify Playlist

New Year New Us.

New Year New Us.

From now on #NewMusicMondays are no longer.

Instead, we'll be uploading our favourite tracks/artists/albums from the previous month as a sort of recap on the 1st of each month!

Check back on 1st February for reviews of what's been getting us through the January blues.

Until next time...

@wewantgoodmusic

CRITICS 'Woodwork' EP

The wait is over, London based dirt-pop trio Critics' second EP is here. Filled with the catchy melodies, insane guitar parts and groove heard in their previous EP 'Spilt Milk', the highly anticipated 'Woodwork' reinforces Critics' label of 'ones to watch'.

Kicking off with previously teased track 'Key Lime Pie' gets the EP off to a great start. Reminiscent of the more pop infused elements of the first EP,  this is the type of song you can't help but click and sway along to. 

'You make everything alright,

Turn the dark into the light,

Got a tattoo on my mind.' 

Continuous dance beats and uplifting guitars are punctuated by those distant vocals that have come to define the Critics sound. This adds interest to the verses. Vocalist Lynn's unique tone can be heard throughout the chorus, adding a bit of grit to an otherwise very pop orientated track.

In contrast, the more rock orientated 'What Are You Waiting For' follows. The crash of cymbals, claps, heavy bass drum and distorted guitars lets you know we're in a different area of the Critics brand now. 

This is a much darker toned track yet it retains the ability to make you want to move around - even if it's to sway your arms and stamp your feet.

I particularly liked the call and response element of 'What Are You Waiting For' that features group vocals shouting the hook of the song in response to the drum pattern. You can definitely imagine this live.

Coasts - 'This Life' Album Review

Picture Source: @coastsband on Twitter

Bristol five piece Coasts are back with their second pop infused indie album.

Looking at the track listing, you can already see the journey you're about to go on emotionally. Tracks such as 'Heart Starts Beating' and 'Come On Over' sit at the beginning of the album, you might argue this indicates a positive start to a potential relationship as opposed to the middle/final tracks 'Make It Out Alive' and 'Born To Die' that may suggest a darker tone - but we'll see.

'Take Me Back Home' kicks off the album with a sound reminiscent of the band's first album - fun, upbeat pop that you can't help but dance and move along to. Amongst the strong beats and guitar licks creating that typically Coasts summer vibe, attention to the lyrics of songs can sometimes be lost. I particularly liked the metaphor used at the beginning of 'Take Me Back Home' to illustrate sunlight coming through the window and its later use to conjure up a picture of a stunning sky.

'Sunlight starts to skate across the ceiling.'

'Where the sky is glittering gold.' 

To me, this song is written from the perspective of looking back to when life was less complicated. However, the memories might be a tad embellished as they seem so perfect. 

PICTURES - THE SCRIPT GIG

This week saw Irish rock/pop trio The Script return to Birmingham to play intimate venue The O2 Academy.

With a set full of classic anthems to sing along to and a few tracks from new record 'Freedom Child' scattered in for an introduction to their new sound, The Script put on a fantastic show.

Support came from hit singer-songwriter JP Cooper (you've heard him on summer anthems such as 'September Song' and 'Passport Home') who kicked off the night perfectly.

Then it was time for the infectious energy that is The Script. Here are some pictures from the show:

JP COOPER

THE SCRIPT 

All photos taken using an iPhone 6s.


Until next time...

@wewantgoodmusic



Find out more about The Script here.