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Week34 |Tobi’s New Music Monster Picks

Writer: goldenstateservicesj
goldenstateservicesj
Feb 24, 2019
4 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:

CLARA-NOVA + Penguin Prison Track:“Electric” – Penguin Prison Remix French-American singer-songwriter Sydney Wayser aka CLARA-NOVA and New York-based producer/remixer Chris Glover aka Penguin Prison come together to bring us bright slice of quietly cool electro-pop, with their new single, “Electric” – Penguin Prison Remix.

Having adopted the name CLARA-NOVA in the mid-2010s, former Indie Folk Artist Sydney Wayser has built a hard-earned reputation for smartly produced, upbeat electronic pop with heart and integrity. The official version of ‘Electric’ blends heavy synth sonics with bright electro ear-candy, a snappy, bit crushed beat, and chorus on the rush.

In approaching his remix, Glover (Penguin Prison) demonstrates his taste and good judgment by leaving much of Wayser’s original intact. And in doing so, manages to preserve the soul and rich vein of emotion that runs through the core of the official release. His choice of additional elements, feel like an organic extension of the source material. Where most remixers fall short, Glover has excelled in staying faithful to the emotional experience of Wayser’s song, while heightening the percussive and infusing the track with greater emphasis on transition and dynamic; and in doing so, gently expanding that emotional experience to that of a crowd experience.

Much maligned and ignored by critics (many music blogs/magazines refusing to even accept remixes for review), Glover’s deft handling of Wayser’s stand out track offers clear testament as to why it is high time, remixers are given the recognition they deserve as creative music makers and collaborators.

The Penguin Prison remix of “Electric” is out now on all streaming media platforms.

Artist:

Sego Track:“Neon Me Out” LA-based awesome or terrible (un)professional noisemakers Sego deposit a gloriously appalling dose of Independent/unsigned Lo-Fi magnificence/amateurish mess, with their new single/excuse, “Neon Me Out”.

With their highly unanticipated (their words), new album out April 5th, 2019 looks set to be a big/indifferent year for the willfully ‘un-willful’ four-piece. The unique quality (or ‘self celebrated ‘lack thereof’) of Sego, is best summed up their inspired/stupid choice of title for their upcoming album; what began life as an abusive hashtag, ‘Sego Sucks’, was embraced wholeheartedly/sarcastically by the band.

Their latest release, “Neon Me Out” combines richly saturation/distorted guitars with authentic/poorly recorded live drums and a roughly overdriven/carelessly clipped bassline. A deftly crafted/haphazard track that will delight fans of real alternative/DIY music and horrify audiophiles in equal measure. Vocals stream in talk-sung (can’t sing) streams of lyrical image & idea (confused word porn) or soar in great indie anthemic expansions (atonal vocal drones).

With production line pop (professional productions), devaluing/invigorating the mainstream, Sego’s intentionally underproduced (badly made) sound (din) is a bold/unwise artist choice, that inspires hope/dread that the real Independent noise is finally on the rise again (whether you like it or not). #segosucks #segorocks

I'll Just Be Me by Gravity Castle - BRASH! Magazine Blog

Artist:

Gravity Castle Track:“I’ll Just Be Me” Utah-based Indie pop duo Gravity Castle delivers a disarmingly upbeat chart-friendly crowdpleaser and quietly anthemic singalong, with new single, “I’ll Just Be Me”.

Having taken the long and windy road to finally working with each other, Oliver and Gabriel (aka Gravity Castle) released their first single last year, with the graceful slice of bittersweet pop, ‘I’m Sorry’. A second single and their debut EP, ‘Beginnings’ followed later that same year. Their newest release, “I’ll Just Be Me” represents their first new material of 2019.

Recorded in their self-built home studio, the three-minute twenty-five-second track draws from an ecleptic mix of genres. Sharp, bit-crushed beats, further enhanced by EQ filter and delay, snap and ricochet along-side piano and electric guitar. The lead vocals are, for the most part, strikingly unprocessed and natural; while in contrast, pitch dropped vox hook morph, shift, and slur in modulated double and echo.

The production breathes with creative use of automation. EQs and reverbs are panned and saturated in an ever-moving ambient of depths, layers, and widths. The pair making smart use of sonic space and smart arrangement to craft an open, yet busy mix. The result is a compelling listening experience that is both engaging and easy on the ears, pop accessible and rich in soul and heart. The track manages to feel both contemporary and old world.

Critics of every artform have always been quick to credit the cynical and downbeat with integrity while ignoring or actively devaluing the few artists who dared to craft the positive and optimistic. But in these increasingly difficult times, what could be more vital than to strive to bring light and hope to the lives of those lost and alone in the gathering dark.

Share your music via Thursday’s #Musichouruk 8 pm – 9 pm (UK Time) for considering on our New Music Monster Playlist and review as one of our New Music Picks!

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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