Probing Reviews on Upcoming and Recent New Music Releases
Longtime favorites and brand new-to-this-site artists are the featured music reviews here in the latest DCW. Advance singles come in anticipation of a new full length album by an accomplished still-in-their-prime creator. Furthermore, a single release is reviewed from a similarly positioned lyrical composer. Two other first timers here receive thorough analysis via a complete full length recording and alternative video single release. All of this new output provide the perfect soundtrack for your relaxed summertime listening.
There’s more that a little bit of history with musician Frankie Rose here at DaveCromwellWrites. In additional to all the live shows attended through her various alliances in multiple bands (as well as solo shows), an extensive album review of her 2017 masterpiece “Cage Tropical” was a particular highlight. Now the news of her latest record “Hila” being set for full release in the coming days is something to look forward to. Two advance singles have been released from it so far, providing early opportunity to dig into it’s sonic details.
Immediately blown away by the sound of first single “Cant Be Wrong,” the sheer brilliance of it’s studio production and creativity in vocal layering is transcendent. That it was all self-produced in a home studio (with collaboration from Jesus and Mary Chain drummer Justin Welch) is even more impressive. Opening with an instantly catchy higher-end synth keyboard melody, the syncopated bass synth against it brings to mind the 80’s new wave funk of a band like The Human League. Stabbing keyboard chords on top only add to that feeling.
Frankie’s vocals commence and you are instantly taken away to a magical place of wonder and nostalgia. That you can barely make out the words being sung doesn’t matter all all. It’s all about feeling and it’s gorgeously romantic. Exceptional production values have the end of vocal lines swirling upward, blending seamlessly with the overall sonic wash. Rising to a pinnacle, the hook becomes her “I love the way you are” and “tell me” and “cant be wrong” vocals immersed in the swirl of keyboards and magic.
The track comes with an equally impressionistic black and white video depicting the artist walking on the beach, morphing in creative ways. Check it out here:
A second single and video for the song “Manifest” has now been released. Moving Tarot cards opens the video as Frankie sits within a circle of candles. The mood is dark with a heavy percussive groove that conjures thoughts of The Sisters Of Mercy’s gothic dance tracks. Vocals are multiplied and chorused for maximum chilling effect. Soon images of atomic bombs, people running in the street, burning buildings and airplanes descending all serve as stark reminders of the ticking doomsday clock we all live under. Frankie appears singing behind water sprayed plexiglass, then four panel quadriptych, as the tarot cards continue to turn. Her voice soars on primary vocal lines, while a higher level of responding voices add an element of urgency to it all.
In addition to familiar artists who’ve been reviewed on this site more than once, previously unheard musicians often find their way on here as well. Such is the case with French creator Thierry Haliniak and his project My Raining Stars. Having connected earlier this year via Social Media, a notification of his recently released new album piqued curiosity. Titled “Toy Club,” the collection is a collaboration with longtime friend Didier Frahier (E-grand), whom he has known for over 35 years. The process involved Thierry sending stripped-down demos of songs he wrote to Didier to shape and arrange the overall sound while preserving the original vocal melodies and song structures.
What came out of that are nine indie dreampop tracks that draw from late 80’s and early 90’s Creation Records, C86 and Sarah Records influences. To put further emphasis on that, the album was mastered by Ride lead vocalist Mark Gardener. The title "Toy Club" pays tribute to the small club in Lyon, France where the two friends first met and discovered the British indie music that had a profound influence on them. Released on Shelflife Records in the US, and Too Good To Be True in the UK and Rest of the World, a careful listen and detailed review of this music follows below.
Opening track “Wherever” kicks things off with chiming indie-jangle guitar chords that instantly grab your attention. It’s primary 4 chord progression soon commences, fully formed with drums and bass. While verses are melodic and lyrically sincere, the chorus hits hard with the title word embedded in catchy hook lyrics “wherever you are, I do my best, I don’t on tight and try to live as good as I can.” Tasty electric guitar leads follow over those slashing guitar/bass/drum rhythms.
Follow-up cut “Kind Of Light” features a chunky guitar rhythm in the style of The Rolling Stones ‘Under My Thumb.” Lyrically focusing on love that starts out well but eventually turns bad, the double-time chorus states “you do not need me to bring this new kind of light in your life.” Ethereal background vocals on the second chorus pass through and songs end-out add a dreamy quality to it all. Third entry “Silent Girl” builds out of an easy groove shuffle, powered by drummer Casper Iskov (who also plays all the bass guitar on this album). It’s heart-tugging and emotional when Thierry sings “I can’t believe I won’t see you again” and “nobody knows how much I miss you.” Brilliant lead guitar work bridge all the passages together seamlessly.
“In His Heart” is a poppy whimsical number recalling how friends helped “to fight the lack of confidence that was inside him.” An instantly likeable, catchy melody where “comfort” in “difficult times” are remembered and “engraved in his heart.” Midpoint track “Fine” emphasizes rich keyboards, jangly strummed guitars and that ever-present rock-solid bass & drums rhythm section. Thematically wrestling with the wonder of youth and how that diminishes over time, “you would give everything to feel that way again.” However, you come to “realize everything has changed and nothing feels the same” because of so many “regrets.”
The subject of sudden loss is explored on the track “It Will Take Me A While.” Embedded in a jangly guitar driven, heartfelt song are the emotions dealing with having “to accept your absence.” While one can only “wonder if you can seem me from beyond,” all that is left to do is “honour your memory.” “Priceless” bursts forward as a hard charging rocker. Understanding that “freedom is priceless, and I know that time files,” the desire to “stop wasting my time” becomes paramount. The overall relentless driving progression gives this one a more punk-pop feel.
Penultimate track “As Far Back” is bass guitar heavy and groove oriented, with it’s descending chord progression and sinewy guitar figures. A thank you song to “Dad” for his sacrifices and dedication to his children’s happiness. Final song “Till The Time Comes To Leave” uses acoustic guitars to lead the way through this power ballad. A variety of audio textures accompany the story telling, none-the-least being some brilliant electric guitar melodies. A particularly enchanting higher-register background voice joins in on a chorus that goes “we will dance all night she said, we will dance till the morning light.” With that voice joining in on subsequent passages, the title line comes into focus when “it’s time to say goodbye.”
Listen to this wonderful album (with info on how to acquire it) here:
Follow My Raining Stars on their Social Mediahere and here.
Another new-to-this-site entry that arrived through the frequently accessed channel of promotional pr-to-the-press is Australian pop star daine. Announcing a debut album “In Endless Awe & Agony” due November 6th via Pack Records, an advance single for “Love Love (Love Love)” presents as good of an entry into the music and visual appeal one could possibly hope for. With this artists stated desire to fulfill their unique, authentic self, a closer inspection of this particular joyful song and video commences below.
As the video displays quick-cuts of the artist dancing around in various locales, it’s hard not to be immediately drawn in to the youthful beauty and energy on display. Buzzing synths and a 4-on-the-floor pulse beat establish the sonic groundwork for appealing vocals over top. A percolating percussion enters the mix as the lyrical question is asked “it is worth all that you give?” Vocals are doubled on an instantly catchy chorus that goes “lay low, then wonder where your friends go again // maybe you could stay close and give yourself another whirl.”
With many songs, that might have already been enough of a “hook” to satisfy, however daine takes it to another level with the swirlingly euphoric refrain “love, love, love, love - your heart is second to none” and “I’m living in the echo of us.” It’s full-blown dance music for sure, but sonic references to The Psychedelic Furs “The Ghost In You” come to mind, with it’s similar “love, love, love” refrain in that classic 80’s new-wave song. Short, melodic keyboard licks and deep booming drums further emphasize the rich audio quality of this studio recording.
The purring verses continue with lines “it takes it out of me, to always wear that mask” with a louder overlay of the word “stop!” seemingly as a form of internal motivation. Combined with this video imagery displaying energetic (and super-cute) dancing, is an aural quality that dips into the Charli XCX realm. Layering voices with a higher register delivery on a bridge that states “it’s hard to be yourself, even though no one’s around” ultimately demanding friends to “get out of bed and come see me.” The glitch-pop textures bubbling on the very end becomes a cherry on top of this intoxicating sundae.
There is a fair amount of history here at this website with the artist John Dorian, who has now released his latest single release “Love I Remember.” First meeting back in 2017, a number of live shows attended and reviews written over the following few years covered his band at that time HerMajesty. Always impressed with the level of creativity and musicianship, the announcement of this new solo release from John is a welcome one indeed. A careful inspection of the songs origins, inspiration and most importantly how it sounds follows in the detailed review below.
Continuing to Collaborate with high-level musicians, John co-wrote this new track with multi-instrumentalist Julian Harris. He then engaged with The Church alumni Marty Willson-Piper to arrange, provide original production and perform electric guitars on it. The final production came from Michael Beinhorn who also oversaw the final mix done by engineer Anthony Gallo at Virtue and Vice Studios in Brooklyn.
The three and a half minute track opens with John’s voice mostly solo (with only subtle guitar enhancement underneath) repeating essential lines “Love, Love remembers your name.” Full band kicks in right after with co-writer Julian on bass, acoustic guitar and keyboards, Marty providing lead guitars and longtime drummer Konrad laying down a rock solid beat. The vibe is swirling 80’s alternative pop with jangle guitars and big melodic keyboards. John lyrically elaborates that “love takes your hand to the end of the road,” and that “there is grace, in her flesh, in your soul.”
John’s familiar slightly-raspy mid-range vocals are poignantly expressive, periodically enhanced by additional collaborator Sirintip Phasuk (Tippan) who arranged and performed backup vocals. Lyrically inspired by Austrian poet Rainer Maria Rilke’s First Duino Elegy, John explores human limitations and romantic traps with lines “On this road you’ll find choice, regret, and forgive, so give, give to the one in your soul.” Reaching a crescendo in the song with the declaration “she’ll wave her arms and break our fall” opens up space for an ambient interlude of background voices echoing the songs theme. The tracks end out is lush with bass guitar becoming more noticeable in the mix and John’s final recitation of the title line.
Check out this creatively crafted piece of music here:
Dave Cromwell has been writing about music since the dawn of the internet age. In addition to the steady flow of features here on this site, he has been a regular contributor to The Deli Magazine (both Print and Web) since 2010. With numerous Print Issue cover features and weekly contributions on the Deli website, scores of artists have received the Cromwell point of view. Along with ongoing contributions to this site and The Deli Magazine, Dave has written for Dingus, My Social List, The Waster, Spin and Rolling Stone magazines.
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