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Week22 |Tobi’s New Music Monster Picks

Writer: goldenstateservicesj
goldenstateservicesj
Nov 18, 2018
5 min read

A totally random, whatever came to mind first, selection of the latest additions to ourNew Music Monster

Music Reviews written by Tobi Davis

Tobi's new music monster

Artist:

Indiana Track:I Like Drinking Self proclaimed narcissist and born again fiercely independent alt-pop-attitude artist Indiana drops the anthem for your Friday Night/Saturday Night/Every Night (delete as needed), with new EP I Like Drinking. Signed to Sony in 2014, with debut album, No Romeoreleased in 2015 and single, “Solo Dancing” racking up 10 million streams on Spotify, Loughborough born Indiana had apparently hit the music industry jackpot and surely everything a ‘small town girl’ could ever hope for; everything except what the talented young Artist needed above all else, creative freedom. With the record deal and 3 years behind her, Indiana released the ten track LP, Not Girlfriend Materialearlier this year. Part musical expression/part life mantra/part testament to her Independence, Indiana describes the album as ‘representing me, not everyone else’s me’. Track three of the ten, I Like Drinking is a pulsating, heady mix of throbbing electro-funk bass line, tightly dabbed kick and scattershot stutter beat, with smartly placed instrumental and vocal hook. The 3 minute 53 second track shifts through a contrasting series of well blended musical scenes, each providing satisfy variations of dynamic, width and depth; well placed ear candy catches the ear, fizzing and bursting left to right/right to left; the track rising and falling in well worked overlapping layers that complement and / or counterpoint each other, in an defy finessed production that flows with an accomplished ease from beginning to end. Indiana’s voice teases and talks in breathless tones and hushes; the talented vocalist delivering the lyrics with a laid back, uber-cool nonchalance. Though instantly catchy/pub pop singalong, the lyrics successfully engage on a deeper level with intelligent use of language, quietly insightful observation and conflicting idea, juxtaposed to great effect. ‘I’m a narcissist, but I don’t see that as a negative thing – it’s part of who I am.’ A common theme runs throughout Not Girlfriend Material, that of accepting yourself and being okay with it. In learning to be okay with ‘not being girlfriend material’, Indiana has crafted a message for us all, it’s okay not to be okay.

Artist:

Liz Longley Track: I Can’t Help Myself Pennsylvania born singer/songwriter Liz Longley makes a welcome return with quietly breathtaking, on the slow burn rendition of The Four Tops 1965 iconic hit, “I Can’t Help Myself”. Having scored a number one on GarageBand.com with song, “Naked Trees” while still at high school, completed her self released debut LP, Somewhere in the Middle while studying on a scholarship at Berklee Collage of Music, and won a slew of songwriting competitions (including the BMI John Lennon Songwriting Scholarship Competition); not to mention scoring a regular rotation on Sirius XM with her cover of Van Morrison’s “Moondance”, opened shows for major artists and landed songwriting cuts on hit TV shows  it is a testament to the uphill battle all Artists face in a ‘post download’ music industry, that despite her hard earned successes, this stand out, talented young singer/songwriter still had to seek ‘crowdfunding’ to finance her next album, self titled and follow up to the 2010 release, Hot Loose Wire; a fourth album, Weightlessfollowed in the 2016, which included her most success single to date, with nearly 4 million streams on Spotify, the hauntingly beautiful, ‘Rescue my Heart’. Liz Longley’s latest release re-imagines The Four Tops uptempo, swing beat classic, as graceful, stripped down ode to fidelity. Much of the three minute twenty three second track is carried by vocal and electric guitar ; the six string grinding and grunging in spits, crunches and drives, it’s tone rendered blunted and distant, with well judged use of saturation, tape slap and reverb. Liz Longley’s works her voice with inspired variations of technique and tone ; hushed deliveries open up into gentle whispered lingers, only to drop back into perfectly placed under-sung phrases, that draw the ear closer; Longley’s voice taking flight, but breaking back, in a compelling series of vocal waves that build in rises and falls. At its finale, the track slow bursts into an eruption on the down low, of deep pounded drum thud, resonating feedback and metallic, distortion shift; oscillating in quiet ambient cacophony, that reverberates about the stereo field. Liz Longley’s voice, gently howling melodic, like a wolf serenading the distant moon, in testament to its lifelong love; her incredible vocal performance collapsing down upon itself, exhausted, and onto the words, ‘I can’t help myself. I can’t’.

Biographical information can be found on Liz Longley’s Spotify Artist Page and was written by Thom Jurek

Artist:

Katie & Lillias Track:“Waiting for You” Premiered on BBC Introducing and written/recorded in one day, whilst heavily hungover, singer/songwriters Katie and Lillias release a 3 minute slice of vocal delight, rhythm, blues and soul on the live side, with their debut single, “Waiting for You”. The talented young duo first met at University, where they become fast friends and developed an instant creative rapport. Despite Lillias returning home to Glasgow, the two were determined to continue working together; and so, Katie bordered a train to Scotland, along with her laptop, USB audio interface and microphone; Katie having invested in the equipment for her own second EP (to be released early 2019). “Waiting for You” shuffles along in syncopated stabs and starts; heavy slung bass line and raspy, low mid deep acoustic guitar play off each other, in an alternating blues standard; weighty stomp pumps and punches the track, in thick subby dabs; the instruments shifting about each other in lively jolts and loosely timed slews. Katie and Lillias’ vocals soar, dip and dive; playing across the width of the mix; their voices resonating in surging harmonies that compel and enthrall in equal successful measure. Additional backing vocals from Zara Holme (recorded post hangover, back at Katie’s home near Liverpool), linger and echo, deep in the room ambient; adding a beautiful, even poetic, sense of height and depth. Imaginative stereo placement, further enhances the listening experience, with Lillias’ lead and bass sat halfway off to the right, with Katie and acoustic, even further to the left; leaving the center to the stomp and Zara’s third vocal line. This odd arrangement creating both width and a sense of intimacy. The track carries a full spectrum feel, rich in bass and busts of treble lifting upwards. Already promising artists in their own right, Katie and Lillias bring a wealth of songwriting talent to their new collaboration ; and yet, it is the open, natural, uninhabited way in which ‘Waiting for You’ moves from section to section, that will really catch your ear; an ease in the creativeness, as though the two young women were born to make music together.

About Tobi Davis (BRASH! Magazine/Blog Writer) ​Good producing is like good plumbing. If you do your job right, no one notices. Mix, Remix + Master. Run @monsterthread w/ Singer Songwriter Jon Magnusson. Host Thursday’s @musichouruk. Music Reviews for BRASH! Magazine. Promote. Occasional Lyricist. Love my beagle Enzo + fav bands Little Empire and Moxi. Check out Tobi Sonics – Mixes + Remixes!

About The Monster Thread The #MonsterThread is a community of Independent Musicians, Bands and Artists supporting each other in making and sharing Indie Music.

 
 
 

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