Each week, Little Indie sits one person in the guest reviewer's chair with a pair of headphones and five new tracks to swirl through their ears to give their opinion on each.
This week we have three cosying up in the chair, the members of Made Of Eyes.
Job:
J.R Campbell, vocalist/guitarist for Made Of Eyes
Jason Stewart, guitarist/vocals for Made Of Eyes
Liam Browne: bassist for Made Of Eyes
Musical hates:
J.R.: Djent and metal.
JS: Music on the radio that all sounds the exact same.
JB: Hearing something predictable.
Musical loves:
J.R.: Vocal harmonies and alternative rock music with electronic flavours.
JS: Ambient instrumental tracks - the more reverb the better. Metal - the angrier the better.
JB: Bluesy elements.
JB: Bluesy elements.
MIRROR SHOT - RETURNING
Credit: Stewart Capper
Debut single, out August 4, from new London four-piece Mirror Shot. Indie rock with sparkling, intricate guitars and subtle hooks and bittersweet vocals mask a heavyweight lyric touching on depressive cycles and the weight of expectation from the people we love. Recorded on all-analog equipment with Brian O'Shaughnessy (My Bloody Valentine, Primal Scream).
J.R.: ‘Returning’ is a total banger. After listening to the track, I felt the need to listen again and again! The clean but creative guitar work is a great driver and blends well with the rhythm section, but what I love most is that Olivia (drums) and Lewis (bass) gel so perfectly in the track and both parts are played with a strong sense of purpose without anything being overly complex; the Londoners have created a track in which every part is totally fitting throughout, without any egos. There are definitely flavours of Catfish and The Bottlemen, but I also hear some early Libertines in there too in terms of melody. However, the lead vocalist's soft and alluring voice makes this band more original to the indie norm as he sings “I try, not to waste this state of mind” proves to make for a hooky and memorable hit! These guys are a band I look forward to hearing about in the future.
Star rating: ★★★★☆
LUNA ROSA - I IN THE CENTRE OF PRIDE
Produced by Gavin Monaghan, the new single from the Northants quartet (the follow-up to 'Mercurial Man') was released July 26, is a raw, energetic affair of cross-genre alt-indie/ psych/ punk.
JB: A memorable intro that gives a striking toughness, tapping into a live energy that can sometimes be lost in the production of other artists' tracks. The song preaches gracefully, this is a band that is worth taking the time out to read into the lyrical depth of their song. Providing a great use of stray notes, it keeps away from the traditional bar chord that gets overused in so many other artists songs. Nicely driven guitars: very “tube-like” neck guitar tone, reminds me of sounds used in the Foals' 'Holy Fire' album. A powerful indie presence with a hint of old school punk vibes (Editors meets The Sex Pistols). Giving a very cool sounding middle eight - a mixture of building up haunting vocals with distorted stray notes playing, evolving into a solo but then dropped back down to a clean tremolo guitar. it’s definitely something worth seeing live for sure, leaving you amped up for wherever they take you next in the track.
Star rating: ★★★★☆
PARLIAMO - END TO END
Perth teenagers Parliamo follow-up recent track ‘Youth’ with new single ‘End To End’. The track is described by singer Jack Dailly as "[discussing] throwing yourself into the nervousness, sexual excitement and infatuation of a new relationship with a girl from Glasgow.”
JS: Reminiscent of UK rockers The Smiths and The Enemy fused with the punchy energy of Pretty Vicious, 'End To End' is upbeat and instantly catchy.
The track itself manages to sound big whilst also maintaining a strong pace and good dynamics. Carried through the different sections with hooky guitar riffs and a strong vocal performance, I was singing along to the chorus after just a second listen. Really cool band I'll definitely be checking out more of their stuff.
Star rating: ★★★★☆
SPRINGFIELD - 105
Recorded with the St. Helens production duo Sugar House, the second release from the Whitehaven rock 'n' roll five-piece, which dropped last week. A catchy pop melody surrounded by swirling synths, strident guitars, pummeling snappy drums, which they describe as a "straight up alternative/indie banger!"
JB: The song delivers on iconic sounds (up there with some of the greats in its genre) giving those Bloc Party/Klaxons vibes with a touch of Wombats. Promoting excitement from the get go with a nice indie pop blend that would bring such a great atmosphere to hearing it at a festival line up. Reigning in on that “open hi-hat goodness” is refreshing to hear. The instrumental knows its place in the track and doesn’t feel the need to rely on heavy cymbals/guitars. With a quick intro that doesn’t beat around the bush, evolving into a playful indie epic. there’s a strong consistency throughout the song; it provides a short but sweet solution, inviting you into the song… leaving you wanting more.
Star rating: ★★★★☆
WEIRD MILK - HONEY, I'M AROUND
North London’s Weird Milk continue their impressive ascent with their soothing new single, released last week, once more channelling the influences of The Beach Boys, The Strokes and Rex Orange County to perfection in their own eccentric style. “This song touches on themes of romance and escapism, whilst cherishing the notion that sometimes it is important to be patient and persistent in one’s endeavours, without lingering in the past," say the band.
J.R.: When I heard the first 10 seconds of this track, my initial thought was “this really isn’t for me” but I ate those words very quickly, as when the verse hit I was addicted... I was introduced to a well-versed and powerful lead vocal accompanied by a range of beautiful harmonies. The vocal range is absolutely mind blowing! There are obvious flavours of The Beach Boys and the Monkees, but these lads have cleverly modernised this sound in ‘Honey, I’m Around’, especially with Alex Turner-like tonal quality of the frontman’s voice. Rhythmically, this track impressed me massively, it has been very well written instrumentally and structurally. These guys are an ode to the incredible music that came around during the 70s, but are delivering the message to our younger generation! There is a clever mix of genre in this track with the off chorus going in a slightly heavier direction with a slightly more hard hitting instrumental, compared alongside the verses that have an almost dreamy and Hawaiian feel. I will be adding these guys to my playlist... you should too!
Star rating: ★★★★★
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