A selection of new and/or relevant indie/rock tracks that have recently left an impression on us. For the full playlist click here.
The Shrubs – “Let Us In”
“Let Us In” makes you feel like you’re looking back at your hometown through a sepia filter; except there’s also a niggling feeling that something has been lost to time. Made by the indie psychedelic rock duo The Shrubs, the song feels like it’s being played from an overused cassette. They creatively use analog elements to achieve a “tape saturated” sound and this further emphasises the nostalgia of this piece.
There is an interesting contrast between the shimmering guitar and bright topline melodies, and the fuzzy low end frequencies that create a sense of unease. This mirrors how the hazy melody masks the darker, introspective undertones in the lyrics. Drenched in reverb, “Let Us In” pushes the sound to a distance, making the track feel as blurry as a sepia photograph.
Lyford – “Does It Matter”
“Does It Matter” is the ultimate “screw it, we ball” song and has a reckless honesty to it that cannot be faked. Composed by Lyford, a five-piece English indie rock band, it has an old-school rock soul that makes it seem like a jam session that was captured live.
The band’s decision to opt for a more natural, uninhibited sound over something overly “polished” clearly paid off. The distorted guitars and the heavy swells create these bright, catchy riffs that are very reminiscent of classic rock bands from the 70s. Lyford with “Does It Matter” end up answering their own question: it truly doesn’t matter when you have a song this energetic.
Matt Law – “Days Like These”
Listening to “Days Like These” immediately feels like a shot of espresso; it’ll jolt you awake. The new release from Scottish indie artist Matt Law is highly energetic from start to end. It bottles a “summer vacation” vibe and the rush of living in the present, with the production mirroring the feeling of how quickly the best days of your life rush by.
Fuelling that urgency, the drums on “Days Like These” are frantic, creating a sense of time slipping through your fingers. It has bright melodic hooks and “fuzzy” guitars that evoke the nostalgia and restless spirit of youth. Ultimately, Law delivers a soundtrack for those short-lived yet vibrant moments that define the season.
Tyler McGinnis – “Like Make Believe”
There is something so effusive about sincere love songs and it just always hits the right notes. American artist Tyler McGinnis’ latest release “Like Make Believe”, written spontaneously for his significant other while in Hawaii, is definitely one of those. Musically rooted in Americana and Alt-Country, this is McGinnis’ first true love song according to him.
McGinnis’ honeyed baritone delivery holds the entire composition, conveying the vulnerability of his emotions. The steady acoustic strumming and the harmonica add a “rustic,” soulful texture to the piece. “Like Make Believe” will really have you believing in the power of restorative love.
The Flavor That Kills – “Swimming In A Paradox”
“Swimming In A Paradox” is a brilliantly bizarre track and certainly lives up to its namesake – it has you “swimming” through immersive, disorienting layers. The brainchild of American midwestern band The Flavor That Kills, the track is a part of their latest sci-fi concept album Thunderbird Lodge, which fuels its sprawling psychedelic soundscape.
The so-called “paradox” lies in how the song feels claustrophobic yet incredibly danceable. The funky, groove heavy soul is in contrast with its dark, industrial textures. While the rhythm section keeps the funk going, the shimmering synths combined with the ghostly vocals keep the atmosphere delightfully “trippy”. “Swimming In A Paradox” is a compelling fusion that thrives on its eccentricities.
Find our previous indie/rock reviews here.
