Reality Spaces (EP) - Monochrome Midnight Traveller (Dark Synth Pop) Monochrome Midnight Traveller’s trippy 2-track debut EP, “Reality Spaces”, delivers a hypnotic and haunting vibe that leaves you feeling heavy in the chest. With “Reality”, we get a minimalist production—a dampened kick, thrumming bass and hypnotic synth lead—with minimal female vocals that hang in the air. Male vocals dominate “Spaces” as the production becomes increasingly lush and complex with spacious synth walls filling the room as the vocals cast a menacing spell with a slightly more dense lyrical content before suddenly cutting off to push the audience off a cliff. Dark, edgy and entrancing, “Reality Spaces” is a perfect example of populating a soundscape that takes listeners on a journey.
Dominique Ilie - Safe
Safe - Dominique Ilie (R&B) Dominique Ilie is serving us some much needed classic R&B vibes with latest single, “Safe.” Beginning with a dreamy guitar, it quickly gives way to a punchy, crisp, industrial feeling percussion, while also making room for a stellar vocal performance by Dominique. This artist is a crooner, a resonant baritone to start before easily slipping and sliding up and down those scales with expert precision. Ginuwine, Usher and Chris Brown are conjured by his honey dipped vocals that carry an otherwise minimalist percussion. All in all, with a low key vibe and buttery leads, “Safe” is quite the groove.
Best Lyric: “You make me feel safe, don’t throw my love away.”
Segana - Mercy
Mercy - Segana (Pop) Segana is back on the blog with another 80s-inspired jam, “Mercy.” Unlike “Fever Dreams”, which we reviewed back in March, “Mercy” abandons the “Thriller” subject matter and gives us a retro pop banger the likes of “Footloose” and “Time Warp.” With the splashy keys and tight percussion you’d expect from a throwback inspired cut like this, we’ve got a chorus based on a classic call and response that will surely make this one a crowd pleaser in concert. But more than the production, the track resurrects that peppy, positive vibe exuberance that seems to have given way to the more modern broody, heartache laden, melancholy of today’s pop music. All in all, “Mercy” is a straight up retro party jam that could get every friend and family member up on the dance floor.
Best Lyric: “I can see you through the lines on the wall. You got me countin all my knives just to feel it some more.”
Eleegal - La Buena
La Buena - Eleegal (Latin Pop) It’s an international affair with Eleegal’s latest track, “La Buena”—a latin pop midtempo with an afrobeat flare from a Nigerian based in Poland. What this globally influenced artist has been able to concoct is an infectious and sultry groove, that with all of its restraint makes for quite the hip winder. The track feels like a tango, with Eleegal setting his eyes on a girl at the club. But unlike most songs on this topic, “La Buena” has a hypnotic quality, passionate and quite spicy but always on simmer, never boiling over. That tension makes for a great listen and easy track to put on repeat. With an impeccable production and beautiful vocal layering, “La Buena” belongs on your, shall we say, “intimate” playlist.
Firebird Union - Higher Ground
Higher Ground - Firebird Union (Synth Pop/Funk) With “Higher Ground”, Firebird Union delivers an 80s electro funk groove that we defy you not to dance to. The record is sparkling with glorious 80s instrumentation, from the synth keys and effects, tight delayed vocals and gated snare. It has great build, slowly adding new instrumentation as the track progresses, which helps hold the listener’s interest. Our favorite moments are that grungy guitar driven chorus, a nice switch-up and bona fide earworm, as well as the call and response between the distorted male lead and female backings in the bridge and outro. Dancey and catchy, “Higher Ground” belongs on your retro vibes playlist.
Marlene Larsen - Galore (LP)
Galore (EP) - Marlene Larsen (Alt Rock / Pop) Marlene returns to our blog with her debut 5-track EP “Galore”, an impeccably produced, heartfelt project which crafts a signature sound for the artist while boasting stellar poetic lyricism. Before we go track-by-track, we start with some overall impressions of the project.
It is clear that the album is personal and borne of pain. French singer Marlene Larsen seems to dwell in either the darkness or limbo, opening her heart to pour out the reasons why she finds herself there. With that comes a soft rock, alternative 90s sound that mixes the best of that generation’s emo and grunge styles. Marlene’s sound centers on a warbly, grunge guitar and her soundscapes often remind us of Smashing Pumpkins at times, and at others Sheryl Crow, with Marlene able to straddle the balance of creating a signature sound while also making each song have a unique identity.
Marlene’s voice is both intimate and powerful. Often layered beautifully to create melodious earworms, when solo, Marlene’s voice is passionate and emotive, and often sits very close to the listener. In her tonality and delivery, we often get moments of Fiona Apple, while a few songs evoke Gwen Stefani.
But as strong as the instrument is, even stronger are the words delivered by it. Marlene is one of the best songwriter’s we’ve met this year. Her lyrics are incredibly memorable, as Marlene uses her catchy melodies to carry extremely detailed and specific imagery to paint crystal clear landscapes.
We had the privilege of already reviewing Marlene’s prior singles, “Galore” and “I said i’m fine”. We said the former was a stomping mid-tempo primed for TV licensing, using a timeless sound to touch on current hot topics like gender conformity, with her feminine vocals and grungy guitar paralleling the song’s messaging with the play between feminine and masculine energies. As to the latter, we complimented the numerous switchups, lush vocal layering, richness and theatricality, calling Marlene one to watch.
Now having heard the remaining three tracks, we confidently stand by our opinions. In EP opener “Birthday”, we get a little bit of a current era Taylor Swift vibe, very “Anti Hero” in its sound. In “Birthday”, Marlene uses the idea of her birthday as a reemergence day—the start of a new chapter. Reading like a powerful diary entry, Marlene celebrates burned bridges and the loss of dead weight by wishing herself happy birthday.
“Careful” really surprised us, taking us into a delicate and intimate ballad with striking lyrics, in the vein of Billie Eilish’s “What Was I Made For?”. The song is yearning incarnate, with a heartstring pulling delivery that somehow manages to be both innocent and mature. Marlene is clearly a woman wise beyond her years—an old soul.
“Public Apology” closes the album by abandoning expected form, with the track split into two distinct sections, each feeling very much like the curtain call and encore.
A striking introduction, Marlene Larsen’s debut effort announces her arrival by kicking down the door. And now she has all of our undivided attention.
Emily Manuel - Live Forever (LP)
Live Forever (EP) - Emily Manuel (Folk Pop) We’ve got some impressive musicality on the blog today with Emily Manuel’s 5-track EP “Live Forever”, a dark and sumptuous project bursting at the seams with some serious talent. Poetic lyrics, complex and creative arrangements and a burning intensity, “Live Forever” captivates. Let’s dig in.
Based in Denver, Colorado, Emily focuses on the bittersweet, inviting listeners to join a visceral experience. Today, Emily plays rooftops, tavernas, open fields, theaters and wine cellars, and after listening to this EP, we think sold out concerts across the country are not too far away.
Emily’s sound centers on piano and strings, with features from the occasional horn, percussion and guitar in ways that help give each song its unique identity among the sonically cohesive set. Her classical and jazz training are evident within seconds of listening to the EP, as Emily incorporates impressively composed choral vocals, surprising dissonance and increasing musical complexity.
There is a weight and maturity to the project, with a fair amount of darkness. It showcases maturity and mastery of composition and form. It’s also fitting that a project called “Live Forever” has such a timeless sound. If we had to place it among peers, we’d put it in the late 90s/early 00s singer-songwriter era in the realm of Fiona Apple, but far more folk/blues imbued.
The album kicks off with title track, “Live Forever”, beginning with a miasma of strings that help set a foreboding tone. As is also evident throughout, Emily enjoys playing with dissonance, especially where you least expect it. She likes to touch it briefly before going back to what the ear expects. The song conjures images of dangerous waters, choppy waves and a threatening undertow. We were also impressed with the wall of vocal harmonies, a choral styling that will resurface throughout.
Album closer, “Arms of Mine”, is our favorite, possibly because we think of all the tracks it lends itself best to single treatment, sync licensing and playlisting. With the waves crashing behind the sound of a soulful guitar and rich, weighty lead vocal, you can almost hear the beach bonfire as Emily tells her tale to a late night audience.
Between these bookends we get “So Long,” a piano driven number that sounds like an experimentation in build. Emily starts us off with a piano driven number, only to add more and more instrumentation and complexity (including an absolutely stunning cello line), until we’ve got a full band taking us home. “Scrawl” strikes us with its texture. Scratchy violins claw at the sparkling piano all while a soothing horn introduces warmth. “When This Is Over” gives us a Spanish guitar flare with what we think is Emily’s strongest vocal performance on the project. Emotive and passionate, she uses different aspects of her instrument throughout to display her versatility. And THAT LOW NOTE. We skipped back to make sure we heard that correctly. That came from a fire in her chest.
The passion is evident when listening to this project, as Emily serves a tour de force of artistry. With its timeless sound, rich instrumentation and haunting beauty, we think “Live Forever” will stand the test of time.
Bryanna Rain - LavenderWax (EP)
LavenderWax (EP) - Bryanna Rain (Dance) We’ve got a 3-track EP today set for a 12” vinyl release from Bryanna Rain, “LavenderWax”. The main track currently streaming, “Blaming Vedant / Theme from B&E (Adventures)”, sparkles as it builds into a driving dance beat full of tension and mystery. The track swirls as Bryanna’s tightly delayed vocals give an 80s feel as they float about the bubbling production. The other tracks, set for vinyl, are plays on “Blaming Vedant”, with title track LavendarWax serving as a sonic intro into that boils over into the main track. EP closer “GhostBaby(Ectoplasma)”, has an identity all its own before transitioing into a remix of of “Blaming Vedant.” Continuing the dance vibes with a house infusion, the opening of “GhostBaby” perculates with 8bit video game effects and subtle vocal samples before transitioning into a remix that calls back to the 90s 12” remixes of Madonna and Janet. Lush, lively and musically complex, Bryanna Rain delivers a sumptuous groove.
House of Figs - Siren
Siren - House of Figs (Pop) House of Figs’ latest track, “Siren", is full of delightful surprises baked into an ASMR experience of a production. Beginning with a thunderclap, the vibe is set immediately, giving you rainy day cafe on an overcast Sunday morning. The synths and eventual entry of airy female vocal doubles sparkle with the feeling of reminiscing on the past. But we segue quickly into a surprising and powerful belt that flies into a soaring chorus of afrobeat/EDM influence. The song begs for dance remixes, that’s for sure, and the use of foley and fx punches makes for a bounty of ear candy. Brilliantly produced, soulful and stirring, boasting lyrical poetry, “Siren” is decadent.
Best Lyric: “Humans don’t live in the sky.”
Proklaim - LOVE HIGHWAY
LOVE HIGHWAY - Proklaim (Hiphop) Next up in our Proklaim double feature is “LOVE HIGHWAY”, an uptempo afrobeat number with a touch of latin and jazz influence. Serving as a contrast to parallel release “REASON 2 BELIEVE”, this one is quite dancey, with a 00s Top 40 crossover sensibility. It’s giving us Wyclef Jean, probably due to the “Hips Don’t Lie” horns that help drive the latin infused instrumental forward, not to mention that fun 80s gated snare transition. Usually on the social conscious tip, which don’t get us wrong, we love, it’s nice to get a pure hip winder from Proklaim. Now having had the pleasure to review six of Proklaim’s tracks, we think this is his most mainstream effort to date.
Best Lyric: “Dividends and coochie, everybody wants a little more.”
Proklaim - REASON 2 BELIEVE
REASON 2 BELIEVE - Proklaim (Hiphop) It’s a double feature this week with our fifth and sixth tracks from Proklaim this year alone, starting with “REASON 2 BELIEVE.” He’s giving a lot of Kendrick Lamar again in the first verse of this one, with a flow that actually reminds us a bit of some of the tracks on Miseducation of Lauryn Hill. The chorus is silky smooth with a Bones Thugs ‘N Harmony kind of layering. Reminding us of the versatility we’ve come to expect from Proklaim, the second verse switches up the flow entirely—ike, you’d think it was a J Cole feature. It’s an understated production, a mellow midtempo vibe with a touch of somberness to it, though still going down nice and smooth. This track is honey for the ears.
Best Lyric: “We beat life ‘til it’s not fair.”
Alexia Vegas - There's No Way
There’s No Way - Alexia Vegas (Pop) Torn up about a recent breakup, Alexia Vegas fears she won’t be getting over it anytime soon in latest record “There’s No Way.” The song is defined by its melancholy, a dark cathedral sound with sad string swells and verbed keys, cavernous in the space it takes up. Picking up in the choruses with a punchy percussion production, the melody becomes quite the ear worm with great sing-along-ability. The vocal is innocent and pure, close and vulnerable, with some particularly shining telephone EQ high octave doubles and harmonies that really enhance the richness of the track. Tension abound but not without its pluckiness, “There’s No Way” is a pop delight.
Liliana Ferreira - Changing Faces
Changing Faces - Liliana Ferreira (Pop) Liliana Ferreira delivers a driving piano ballad with her latest track, “Changing Faces”, a song about two people growing apart in a relationship. There’s a timelessness to the track, with a traditional instrumental arrangement led by sparkling keys and beautifully complimented with some soaring violins that serve to tug on the heartstrings. Liliana is the star of the track, though, with an intimate vocal production on a voice full of restrained power. The artist is careful not to give it all away at once, and you can hear the belt just ready to break free throughout the record. There’s almost a Celine Dion feel to the track, and we recommend it highly as one of your car/shower singalongs.
Best Lyric: “Floating on the tears we’ve shed.“
Dylan Tauber - Sea People (LP)
Sea People (LP) - Dylan Tauber (EDM) Dylan Tauber splashes into 2023 with the hypnotic new concept album “Sea People”, a journey through the depths of the ocean on which you will find some pleasant pop gems. Mostly instrumental, the 11 track meditation on the mysteries of all things aquatic is bookended by “Swimming”, leading with the remix, and between dives into the depths of various pockets of the ocean.
The man behind this immersive experience is Dylan Tauber, an award winning and visionary electronic musician, who has been producing music since he began his prolific 26 year career. In addition to releasing 17 critically acclaimed transcendental electronica music albums, he has built a network of websites reaching over 5.5 million page views since 1996, and millions of video views.
Overall, the album is best described as an “experience”—something you listen to sequentially and in one sitting, allowing it into your ears almost as a guided meditation. At around 34 minutes, it doesn’t overstay its welcome, and is the perfect length for a mid day “reset”. In many ways, we feel like the track is a perfect compliment to the mindfulness movement, as the hypnotic quality of the tracks help you dive deeper into yourself and reclaim your center. We’re not doctors over here, but we do feel comfortable prescribing “Sea People” to those with anxiety, racing thoughts or really anyone who just take a moment to breathe and chill out. The album is certainly soothing for the soul.
Production wise, the mixing is top notch, with an expected complement of instruments for the genre. Some 90s house top percussions with the driving synth chords helping navigate the piece. Notably, Dylan focuses on musicality over production tricks—foley sounds, FX punches and other modern production gimmicks are spare to nonexistent—which brings a quiet confidence to the overall record. With over 2 decades in the game, Dylan certainly knows what he’s doing. Also (thankfully) absent is the kick that’s twice as loud as the rest of the instruments, which seems to be in vogue these days, allowing the tracks to blend much more evenly into a holistic soundscape that is rich and buttery on the ears. There’s maturity to the project, for sure.
As the piece stands as a unified work, it’s difficult to pick apart individual tracks as they all ebb and flow into each other, so we’ll focus on the few that feature vocalists as they most lend themselves to single territory. With “Swimming”, both the original (which closes the album) and remix (which opens the album), Dylan quickly sets the sonic tone and concept of the story he’s telling, all with the aid of a female vocalist whose voice is the epitome of a siren song, luring you into the murky waters. Light and airy, yet pointed, she glistens over each version of the track, with a soothing innocence. There’s no pushing here, the vocalist truly floats on the track and lets the momentum of the churning tides of instrumentation carry her along. It really tells you everything you need to know about the project as you start to dive in.
Our favorite track, however, is the Top 40 radio friendly “The Sea Remembers Its Own”, with a reedy, layered male vocalist sitting front and center, with the instrumentation truly stepping out of the spotlight for the only time on the record. The song is a hit, and feels perfectly at home in the modern dance era. The melody is extremely catchy, and the production on the vocal sizzles. It’s a midtempo drenched in melancholy, centered on a meditative chant.
Overall, with a clear vision and expert production, “Sea People” soars. Well, swims. :)
Alan Dreezer - Take Me Back
Take Me Back - Alan Dreezer (Synth Pop) Alan Dreezer is feeling a bit sentimental in new lush track, “Take Me Back”, which makes us sentimental for 80s pop. A midtempo, this synth laden record reminds us a lot of Boy George/Culture Club and music of that era, especially in the vocal production. Alan’s delivery is strong and passionate, theatrical almost, as he longs for rose colored memories of yesteryear. He stacks his backgrounds in that glorious 80s vocal wall, with some spine tingling adlibs and background punches at the end of the record, all while a plucky funk guitar drives the momentum forward. If you have an affinity for the 80s, this track will definitely take you back.
Best Lyric: “We were waiting for invisible sun.“
Nicky Roland - I Can Do That
I Can Do That - Nicky Roland (House) Nicky Roland brings us back to the 90s with house cut “I Can Do That”. It’s a track about reciprocity in love, both being invested equally. When the song kicks off, you’re immediately placed in the 90s house scene with the familiar snare and hats, before a punchy kick enters to take driver’s seat. The vocals are lush and layered, a silky smooth tenor with a tonality that reminded us a lot of Seal. While including all of the house instrumentation you’d expect, the song also tosses in some surprising live instruments—guitar, violin and sax—which all make their way in to have a little spotlight moment between vocal phrases. A midtempo dance groove, this cut would fit right into weekend bar hopping.
Best Lyric: “I can do that, if you do the same for me too.“