Klô Pelgag brings the quirkiness of French art pop and a chanson style of vocals into 2024 with the announcement of her new album ‘Abracadabra’. The Montreal-based singer-songwriter uses her voice and some psychedelic synths for a typically chaotic and triumphant lead single in ‘Libre’. It lurches from serene circus verses to uptempo French pop choruses and explodes into a synth frenzy for the finale. The single explores what it takes to feel truly free and living life to the fullest. You can hear the joyous abandon in the chorus and the abundance of fun in the keyboards. This journey to attai ..read more

What does Phebe Starr sound like? An electro-pop anthem collection created from the viewpoint of an indie artist. The review of ‘Dirt’ by Phebe Starr Australian musician Phebe Starr manages to position her music in the electropop genre with alternative edges to it. She brings beat beats, plenty of synths and massively catchy riffs and then she lays them on a bed of alternative rock elements. For her new album ‘Dirt’, Phebe takes her production towards the big bold sounds of the 1980s. It doesn’t sound cliche though. Think Royksopp’s ‘Junior’ and ‘Senior’ era with a disco rock twist and you’ll ..read more

What does Douglas Dare sound like? Chamber pop electronica swaps the chamber for the club scene. The review of ‘Omni’ by Douglas Dare Approaching his fourth album ‘Omni’, Douglas Dare has completely changed his instrumentation. After several albums of chamber pop, piano-forward folk and a splash of electronica, Douglas has binned all the acoustic instruments. This album is all about the drum machine and the synth. It is his ode to club music – something Douglas revels in. Think Arca and you’ll be in the right ballpark this time around. Douglas Dare Douglas Dare has always had moments of bassy ..read more

What does Sheherazaad sound like? A diasporan melting pot of South and Southwest Asia and American music, forging a new mysterious path back in time. The review of ‘Qasr’ by Sheherazaad ‘Qasr’ means ‘castle’ or ‘fortress’ in Urdu and Asian-American musician Sheherazaad speaks of this from a cultural perspective. In a modern world where migration and diaspora happen frequently and fast, cultures and identities are pulled apart and rebuilt anew like patchwork quilts. Finding herself without a history of music for her position in the world, ‘Qasr’ is Sheherazaad attempting to make her own musical ..read more

What does Mini Trees sound like? Somewhere between St Vincent, Imogen Heap and Mitski when they play with their poppier production sides. The review of Mini Trees – Burn Out EP Following Mini Trees’ debut album ‘Always in Motion’ which was released in 2021, Lexi Vega found herself on a whirlwind tour. However, when she finally got home two years later, she found herself utterly spent, tired and dejected. It’s the age-old problem of musicians and artists who give everything to their work. How can you sustain yourself and not burn out? Mini Trees After taking a break, she returned to the studio ..read more

British singer-songwriter and esoteric pop-rock artist Nick Hudson is always working on something. If he isn’t painting, he is writing or filming something, but music and sound cut across all his artistic endeavours. Breaking out from his band The Academy of Sun, Nick Hudson leans into the quirkier side of piano pop and if you enjoy David Bowie, Tori Amos, Kate Bush or Nick Cave – you’ll find something here. Hudson also brings a macabre gothic glee to his work, so I think fans of Danny Elfman soundtracks would also embrace the dark beauty here too. Nick Hudson currently spends his time in Tbil ..read more

It’s been almost a decade since the last Birdmask release but alternative chamber pop lovers are in for a treat. Returning back to his solo music, Birdmask has lost none of his original charm and complexity with ‘Tristan’. It’s a succinct and powerful EP crammed with five tracks that sucker-punch you into submission and catharsis. Birdmask The big shock here is that Birdmask’s music has had a gleeful abandon of bedroom pop to its production. This time around, everything sounds polished and of studio quality. Some musicians lose their identity when they make this transition but that isn’t the c ..read more

What does Hydrogen Sea sound like? Indie pop sitting somewhere between Little Dragon, Goldfrapp and Oh Land. The review of Hydrogen Sea – Creature Comforts Belgian duo Hydrogen Sea return with their third album ‘Creature Comforts’, aiming to delve into what offers us physical or mental comfort. Sitting firmly in the indie pop space, this lush and syrupy album merges warm electronics and rhythms with dreamy vocals and a coating of catchy ideas. Hydrogen Sea The opening track ‘Ammonite’ appears with hazy piano, ethereal synths and distant muffled drums. I liken it to fog clearing on a valley as ..read more

Patrick Wolf returned from a decade hiatus at the end of last year with his track ‘Enter the Day’. This week, ‘Nowhere Game’ became the second track of his forthcoming EP ‘The Night Safari’ to be released. Whereas ‘Enter the Day’ is a folk-tinged piano and bowed psaltery led musing about how to get up each day and enter a strange world, ‘Nowhere Game’ harks to the more electronic, pacey and string-drenched number. Both have big moments and recall different ends of Patrick Wolf’s musical spectrum. Interestingly, the violin and viola sections of ‘Nowhere Game’ were the first that Patrick had pla ..read more

What does Vienna Teng sound like? Sublime and inventive piano pop for poetic thinkers. The review of Vienna Teng – Waking Hour 2001 Original Tracks 20 years ago ‘Waking Hour’, the debut album from piano pop singer-songwriter Vienna Teng was launched. It holds a special place in my own musical journey as Vienna was one of the first musicians I discovered online and ordered music from. I remember burning CD mixtapes for friends to introduce them to new music and from the old mp3.com days, Vienna’s music was front and centre. To mark its 20th anniversary, she has released four tracks from an earl ..read more