Known for their cinematic soundscapes and warm, graceful melodies, the talented two-piece that is Aquilo have just released their highly anticipated debut album Silhouettes. The acclaimed release, out in late January, was gorgeous from start to end and we’ve had it in our ears ever since. We wanted to know more about Aquilo’s sonic inspiration, so we asked them so share three albums that changed their lives.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BCzrfJ5WYxU
Pink Floyd, Dark Side of the Moon
Ben & Tom: This album is pretty important to the both of us. One of the first gigs Ben ever went to was with his dad to watch the Australian Pink Floyd tribute band. They played the entirety of this album and it’s been a big nostalgia thing ever since. Tom’s always gone back to this album too. It was one of the only albums his dad had on CD in the car when he was a child.
Bombay Bicycle Club, I Had Blues But I Shook Them Loose
Ben: I remember my sister coming into my room with a CD and telling me I’d probably quite like this. I was probably 14 years old at the time and in a band of my own too. We used to cover the song Dust On The Ground for a laugh all the time. This album was so inspiring for me as a teenager at the time and reminds me of feeling careless and not worrying about anything but making the most of summer.
Kendrick Lamar, Good kid m.A.A.d city
Tom: The way it’s put together artistically is so important. It tells a story and sort of takes you on a journey. The production was a bit of an eye opener for me too. Money Trees is one of my favourites. The euphoric opening is gold – and it’s a sample from a Beach House record which is pretty cool too.
It’s video roundup time! Once again, Howl And Echoes are coming in hot with the freshest, most eyeball stimulating music videos to be dropped by the artists you love and some of the artists you don’t know you love yet, of this week. We do all the dirty work and herd them all into one convenient web-based location for you to enjoy every Friday so that you don’t have to. Have yourself a good old gander at the latest offerings from:
Aquilo – Never Seen You Get So Low
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ARkWXukMvok
This one comes from Lancashire duo Aquilo. It’s a session video for their track Never Seen You Get So Low, one of the first to drop from their upcoming debut LP in 2016. The video was recorded in their own studio and turns the warmth and intimacy all the way up for a silky smooth melodic pop track.
Oneohtrix Point Never – Repossession Sequence
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kYM2s-IeFXw&feature=youtu.be
Jumping the Atlantic to New York for the next video, commissioned by Channel 4 Random Acts and Warp Records, it features several tracks by electronic producer Oneohtrix Point Never from his 2015 experimental album Garden Of Delete set to a video directed by Nate Boyce. I’ve got no idea what’s going on for about the first 40 seconds, the video resembling some kind of video game glitch set to a faint hum. The music, some of the most warped out, oddball electronica you’re likely to hear, drops in soon enough but the whole thing just looks like a bugged out video game throughout, though it’s perfectly suited to its soundtrack.
The head in the glass ball freaked me out the most. I’m not even going to try and explain it, just give it a watch if you don’t mind being deeply unsettled. Battles, Hudson Mohawke and Darkstar have all had videos commissioned for the series and they’re definitely worth checking out!
Gordi – Can We Work It Out
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5nBypE_IsyY
Sydney songstress Gordi enjoyed a massive breakout in 2015, nominated for Unearthed Artist of the Year, playing CMJ in New York City and wowing crowds everywhere along the way with her dreamy brand of folk served up with hefty lashings of pop. She has dropped the video for her biggest hit Can We Work It Out and it’s a cracker.
Driven along by some massive percussion, Gordi’s haunting vocals are amplified by the shadows, vivid colours lighting up the background in time to those lilting synths. The entire thing is a neon dream, exactly what you would expect from a song bound together by the unlikely combination of electronic and folk.
Check Gordi out when she plays the FBI SMACS/Sydney Festival on January 10th!
Banoffee – Body Suit
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w1zAdYWTCZM&feature=youtu.be
Sticking with Aussie songstresses, the latest single and video from Melbourne lady Banoffee is out. Body Suit is a track from her debut EP Do I Make You Nervous?, released earlier this year. She’s an innately visual musician and the clip is further proof. It features a cast of diverse characters gathering inside an establishment you can somehow still smoke cigarettes in (where is this???) to watch some kind of contemporary dance routine/cling wrap performance by Banoffee herself.
Their reactions are varied, mirroring the song’s central theme of the subjective nature of performance. The track itself is a laidback, sweet electro-pop number, Banoffee’s vocals stretching their wings across a wide range (that falsetto though, wow). The music video actually tells a story though, something becoming increasingly rare in recent times, and I can’t thank Banoffee enough for that. Check out our chat with her here.
Stillwater Giants – Patience
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFHbUi1KSjY
Props to Perth legends Stillwater Giants for the most fun film clip of the whole week. This one will make you want to load your car up with beers and head where the sunshine is going. Shot on a recent road trip the band took to Broome and featuring pub gigs, crocodile fights, cliff diving (so much cliff diving) and heaps more fun activities all filtered through what looks like the most psychedelic of Snapchat filters (it’s actually a mix of rotoscope, particle effects and hand-drawn animations done by drummer Angus), it’s just a fantastic visual accompaniment to a beers-in-the-sun surf rock song that’ll leave you wanting to quit your day job and live on the highway.
Printz Board and the Boardmemberz – Fuckin’ A
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5xHCMcMPEPo&feature=youtu.be
What a ripper of a song title. This one comes from Printz Board and the Boardmemberz out of sunny Los Angeles, an oddly-satisfying mash up of neo-soul, hip hop and acoustic rock (kind of like what Bruno Mars could be if he wasn’t terrible), for a track off of his latest EP Boarding Pass. The clip is an interesting one to go with it, shot underwater with dreadlocks and random objects floating everywhere (the kicker coming early when it’s shown that they’ve been tossed in there by a few pissed ex-girlfriends).
It’s a feel-good summery track about not giving a single fuck no matter how bad a day you’re having, a message everyone can appreciate I’m sure.
The Gooch Palms – Tiny Insight
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=smNb29qKndE
This next one comes from Los Angeles via Newcastle ‘shit pop’ band, the delightfully monikered The Gooch Palms. Tiny Insight comes from their upcoming sophomore album Introverted Extroverts and it is an absolute cracker of a surf rock track. Lo-fi as all hell, the fuzz on those guitars absolutely sun-drenched. Like the aforementioned Stillwater Giants, The Gooch Palms have here given us an insight into their life on the road in this fantastic hazy adventure of a clip.
Tiny Insight is set to land on June 16th next year! You can catch them on the road in Brisbane with fellow surf punk legends Skegss and for a headline show of their own in late January.
Chet Faker and Marcus Marr – The Trouble With Us
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAd–mEjcco
When crime fighting musical collaborating duo Chet Faker and Marcus Marr teamed up earlier in the year and gave us The Trouble With Us, everybody’s limbs were just about overcome with the pure, unadulterated funk that song brought to the table. It’s looking to go way high in this year’s edition of the Hottest 100 and this week the accompanying video finally landed.
The best way I can describe it is a fast forward through the stages of a relationship if everyone was dressed like a preppy 50s teenager and did everything in choreographed dance form. Also slow-dancing and spit-swapping in the pouring rain. All doesn’t end well for these happy dancing couples though, people copping laundry and water and all kinds of stuff right in the kisser.
The clip works well in visualising the song’s central themes about the ups and downs of romance and it’s as fun and dance-inducing as the track itself.
Mystery Jets – Telomere
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vGpRMysGKJw
And just popping back across the pond again quickly, our penultimate video this week coming from London indie rock quartet Mystery Jets for their latest single Telomere. Heralding the release of their next album, January 2016’s highly-anticipated Curve Of The Earth, the track burns out a long and melodic fuse before kicking into gear for the chorus and soaring. the gigantic drums propelling singer Blaine Harrison’s voice into the stratosphere.
Everyone in the accompanying video looks like they’re out of Mad Max, mud and paint and dirt covering every surface, the contemporary dance routines and kaleidoscopic outro mean your eyes are never unstimulated. Curve Of The Earth drops January 15th.
Neon Indian – The Glitzy Hive
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_t0aoZqfiB0&feature=youtu.be
And last but not least we have Neon Indian throwing it down for the Go-Pro and Pitchfork joint collaboration GP4K. With a rendition of The Glitzy Hive, a track off of his absolute smash hit third album Vega Intl. Night School, it’s like one of those old Countdown clips from the 70s where the artist played on a television soundstage to a crowd (who totally weren’t actors) dancing around them, only this time everything is genuine and the neon is turned up to 11.
It’s a slick, funky, raunchy as fuck track and this live performance of it looks like the most fun anyone has ever had, ever. The use of Go Pros in filming this is crazy, they must have used at least a dozen of them at the rate and positions the footage is spliced into and it creates an almost 360 degree experience that is a nifty take on traditional music videos.
You can catch Neon Indian on his Australian tour kicking off this week!
Words by Lauren Ziegler and Emma Jones
Australia’s summer is officially here, which means everyone has finally shed their winter coats and are gearing up for the festive season that lies ahead. This also means lots of fresh, new music to fuel the festivities. What a convenience it is then, that your trusted Howl & Echoes has once again delivered a playlist of this week’s best songs to get you through the weekend. All wrapped up in a neat little playlist, this week has once again brought the goods in all different shapes and sizes, and we’ve narrowed down the best of the best for your aural pleasure.
Cleopold, Scarlet
When he’s not busy working with Cassian or Miami Horror, Cleopold is actually hard at work on his own solo material. He caught our attention with his debut, Down In Flames a few months ago, and now he’s set to do it all again with the release of Scarlet. Passionate, catchy, groovy and warm, Scarlet has come just in time for summer and that is very good news indeed. He’s linked with Chet Faker‘s record label Detail Co., and if there were any questions remaining about who he is and what he’s about, Scarlet well and truly answers them. We’re predicting really big things from this guy.
High-Tails, My Heart
There’s something utterly refreshing about the clean, bouncy guitars and melody that carry High-Tails’ dreamy new track. The simple and effective track has a way about it, it’s catchy, it puts a smile on your face, it’s incredibly easy to slip and out of the groove. Blending elements from pop, rock, ska and more in a way that allows the track to feel frozen in time, it’s a reminder that you don’t always need gushing atmospheres and intricate layers to creat something really fun.
Just A Gent, Heavy As A Heartbreak (ft. LANKS)
Our favourite freshly-18-years-old Newcastle producer has made his long-awaited return, with a wonderful new single featuring Lanks on vocal duties. Written, produced, mixed and mastered in his own bedroom (as if you’d expect any less), this expansive track is overflowing with energy from the moment the beat kicks in. I love the sheer tonal diversity throughout, as if every percussive input splashes a new colour onto the canvas. Lanks’ vocals complement it so well, adding a rich, earthy tone to the steely beats and backing chords.
Aquilo, Never Seen You Get So Low
Aquilo was brought to my attention a few months ago, and they’ve stuck in my memory since. Their new self-produced track comes ahead of their debut album, due for release next year. The mellow, understated rhythms and breathy melody is soothing and invigorating at once, with a watery, introspective atmosphere. It’s easy to hear the influences of their collaborators SOGN and Olfaur Arnalds, both of whom are slated to feature on the album.
Manor, Grand Mal
Melbourne duo Manor had us hooked a few months back with their previous single Can You Hear Me Talking At You, so we were REALLY excited to see they had more new music for us to undoubtedly love as well. Grand Mal is an intense, sparse, dark track with brooding lyrics and pensive instrumentation. It’s distorted, industrial, dull but never boring and a hugely exciting step up for the duo. We can’t be too sure just yet where they’re headed, but we can’t wait to go along for the ride!
Golden Vessel, Can’t Stay (ft. Allthingslost)
Brisbane producer Golden Vessel has a knack for making really good songs, and another knack for teaming up with really good vocalists. First it was the stunning Tiana Khasi for his track Borrowed Time, and now it’s fellow Brisbanite Allthingslost for Can’t Stay. Careful, precise and considered, Golden Vessel keeps it light and restrained whilst Allthingslost breathes soul and emotion into the song. The duo are a match made in heaven, and we can only hope this is the start of something really exciting.
Asdasfr Bawd, Negative Energy
This is the second single taken from Asdasfr Bawd’s forthcoming EP out early next year, and once again it has us counting down the days until we can jam that straight into our ears. Creating some of the most unconventional, innovative and exciting music to come from Australia’s continuing electronic boom, Asdasfr Bawd does things on his own terms, and we love every single second of it. Minimal but still so full and complete, he melds his classical training with his electronic side to create something you probably haven’t heard before. Keep an eye out for his Underpass EP out March 7th!
CANVAS, Another Time (ft. Andrew Montgomery)
Swedish duo CANVAS have made a name for themselves with their beautiful brand of electro pop, delicate and soft but packing more than a few punches. Now, they’re set to remind us all once again just who they are, by teaming up with vocalist Andrew Montgomery for Another Time. Featuring some modern flutters and flourishes, the track ebbs and flows with gentle synths and crisp beats, whilst Montgomery’s voice soars soft but strong over the glittery bed of electronica. Said to be taken from their forthcoming EP out next year, Another Time is an example of what to do to make a great electro pop song. Producers, take note.
UV Boi فوق بنفسجي, If She, If He (ft. EASTGHOST)
Brisbane’s UV Boi returns with a lush, explorative new track, with a slow building atmosphere, and a really unique blend of jungle-inspired beats, auto-tuned vocals, and stringy, melodic backing beats loops. There’s a lot going on in this murky, yet totally enjoyable track, to the point where listening to it actually feels like a journey – you never know what you’re going to hear next. It’s a really unusual track. but there’s something quite beautiful about it.
World Champion, Shakes
World Champion have been on everybody’s lips for some time now, and with every release, that reason only grows clearer. The Sydney duo today return with Shakes, a blissfully hazy, summery, catchy new offering, just in time for Summer. The combination of bright chords, a shuffling rhythm and crunchy bass create a unique and really interesting, psychedelic soundscape. I can hear the Tame Impala and Revolver-era Beatles influences already knocking down the door.
Sometimes there is a certain essence in the air, and this week in our roundup of the coolest new music videos, it is desire. It has blown in strong with the smells of spring and treated us with a collection of clips that are heavy with longing. Then, just to make sure you aren’t left in a puddle of tears, there are a couple of real bangers to dance it out too.
Get clicking.
Disclosure – Magnets feat. Lorde
Since Disclosure recently dropped their much-anticipated album Caracal (read our review here), the musical world has been eagerly devouring its contents. Now, the striking track Magnets has a video to add to the feast that is a perfect pairing for a glass of red wine and a case of forbidden love. Featuring Lorde, the track is what you would expect from the match up with signature vocals from the songstress and high quality production to match. The stunning lyricism is enough to take a long cab ride home alone too: “Pretty girls don’t know the things that I know.” But where most of us just cry ourselves to sleep, Lorde breaks out in a noir tale of murder. What else did you expect?
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_KfnGBtVeA]
Joy – About Us
Hailing from Brisbane, Joy is a breath of fresh air. With a voice that is so serene it sounds like unicorns, it is hard not to fall in love. We recently chatted to her at BigSound where she won our hearts, and couldn’t be more infatuated by her recent clip for track About Us. Taking place on a low-lit night, the singer wades into knee-deep water, trying to wash herself of a relationship gone bad. The visuals are interspersed with patterns of swelling tides and rippling currents. It’s simple, but lovely. Having already taken out the Unearthed competition to perform at Laneway this year, we are expecting big things from this talented gal as she embarks on her headlining tour next month.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7fgCHboFrJM]
Lana Del Rey – Music to Watch Boys To
Pretty ladies submerged in water might just be the flavour of the week, but as usual, Lana shows she is at the top of the game. Her clip for track Music to Watch Boys to is sensual and all kinds of hypnotising. As smooth as a shell picked up from the sand, press it to your ear and be transported. The track is off album Honeymoon, released just a couple of weeks ago, and as the singer says: “…Lends itself to a visual of shadows of men passing by.” The surrealist clip sees the singer on a beach chair surrounded by swirling horns while boys play basketball and kick skateboards. And she is a total babe as usual. Girl power.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5kYsxoWfjCg]
Aquilo – Good Girl
English duo Aquilo took me by surprise with their track Good Girl. Not familiar with their languid electro-pop, I pressed play on the clip and watched as the song and the accompanying story unfolded. The track takes melodic tiptoes along, as the video tells the story of a religious evangelist who is bewitched by a kind-hearted but rebellious stranger. It is not as corny as it sounds. I don’t know if it’s just the accents that we hear in the prelude, but the characters are a little bit beguiling and you can’t help but be spellbound as they embark on a journey into the unknown.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EpFwCKlSTwE]
No Zu – Ui Yia Uia
There is no other way to put it; No Zu’s clip for track Ui Yia Uia is straight up weird. With taxidermied kangaroos partying alongside an army of body builders in an underground nightclub, it’s a real trip. But, that’s not to say it isn’t really really good. It is contagious and raucous and surprisingly accessible, from a band that have coined their own genre (heat-beat), and sound like this country’s and this decades answer to the B52’s. It’s might not be something you would imagine yourself dancing to, but it’s just unavoidable. All those dirty synths, nonsense vocals and gaudy saxophone (YES! Saxophone!) demand hair flipping, arm flailing good times. Sadly, forthcoming album Afterlife isn’t due out until 2016 so just chuck this one on repeat for now.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FWWD2mdK4sA]
World Champion – Avocado Galaxy
The Sydney electronic duo dropped their single Avocado Galaxy last month, and have followed up with a clip that is even more infectious. High res images of space are interspersed with vintage television footage of dancing crowds and badly costumed aliens from an unknown scifi series. It is a sonic journey through a track that makes you want to hit the dance floor, like, now. Directed by Elliott Shields, it captures all the bands cosmic energy and has us pretty excited about what is to come from these guys.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qt10R2XpjIg]
Once again, this week brought some serious action in terms of new music so once again, you were probably a little overwhelmed with who or what to listen to. Never fear though, because your friendly neighbourhood Howl & Echoes are here to give you the ten best tracks from the week. Don’t say we don’t do anything for you…
Aquilo, Good Girl
Having just killed it on the European Summer festival circuit, Aquilo are back in action with the release of Good Girl. Featuring attention grabbing vocals, heavy bass and a hook that is guaranteed to get stuck in your head (sorry), this track is all you need for your Friday afternoon!
Sam Frankl, Macondo
This is Sam Frankl’s first ever track, and as far as first ever tracks go, this one is a doozy. Smooth and downtempo, Macondo lulls you into an almost trance-like state. His voice pierces the hypnotic rhythm based track, his slightly accented pronunciation making for an intriguing listen but nonetheless extremely enjoyable.
Wallace, Vinyl Skip (Tyler Touché Late Night Mix)
Tyler Touché has really outdone himself with this remix. What was once a soulful, gentle number has been turned into a late night dubby jam, complete with house sensibilities and Touché’s token flourishes that give his tracks that little bit more. This is the latest in a string of fantastic releases from the Brisbane producer, in which he continually outdoes himself. Although this is one of my favourites to come from him, I can’t wait to hear how good the next one is going to be.
Alison Wonderland, Games (Hermitude Remix)
Two of Australia’s heavy weights, together again. It seems since Alison Wonderland jumped on to remix Hermitude’s The Buzz, the boys have decided to return the favour and have done so spectacularly. Both acts require no introduction, and you can pretty much guarantee this is going to be huge before listening, and you’d be right. Taking Games even further into the trap field, Hermitude keep her original vocals and build a huge wall of bassy, skittering beats around them. Don’t listen to this one in public unless you’re prepared to face the consequences of throwing down in the middle of Woolworths.
Porsches, Karate
Porsches are one of the more exciting acts to emerge from Sydney this year, with the infectious Horses immediately being added to the Canon of “must have” party tunes. Now, it seems they’re set to do it again with Karate. Good vibes at an all time high, the high pitched vocals a la Empire Of The Sun are perfectly to the tropical, warm beats that are laid down. It’s as if they’ve taken note of everything good about Australian dance music, and packed it into one neat little band. Expect to hear a lot more of these guys in the very near future.
DIIV, Dopamine
I love DIIV. Anything by DIIV. Including this song.
The Japanese House, Cool Blue
Suddenly all over the place, it seems everyone wants a piece of The Japanese House – and for good reason. She makes music that dreams are made of, and her latest track Cool Blue is perhaps my most favourite yet. Gentle and repetitive, light and airy, it pulls you in and holds you there whilst it swirls around you. Taken from her upcoming EP out later this year, The Japanese House is the next big thing and it’s tracks like this that show why.
Go Freek, Empire
I’m still not 100% sure what “gutter tech” is, but if that’s what this is then I’m all over it. The Go Freek boys continue their fantastic run lately with yet another industrial house track brimming with late night party vibes, bouncy lasers and an Empire Of The Sun sample that’s never sounded this good. Although they’ve been releasing a string of collaborations with the likes of Dom Dolla and LO’99, Empire shows the boys are more than capable to bring the heat on their own. Gutter tech forever!
Hayden Calnin, White Night (Thrupence Remix)
Soft and delicate, Hayden Calnin has made a name for himself by making beautiful music, and White Night is no exception. Add some Thrupence into the mix, and the beauty is just about stunning. Stripping the track right back, Thrupence substitutes the grand production for a simplistic piano melody and static feedback. Calnin’s voice rings out, clear and crisp as Thrupence adds more and more until it sounds like a full choir of Calnins. Truly something special.
Zola Jesus, Circles
I can’t deny that we aren’t major Zola Jesus fans here, so we may be a little biased. However, if you listened for yourself, you can see why. That voice, those drums; this is an incredible track. Circles is taken from their forthcoming Nail EP, it’s safe to say that is going to be one amazing release, and a release we can’t wait to hear.
Aquilo – Calling Me
With an EP out this week, atmospheric pop duo Aquilo have released their video for their latest single of the same name – Calling Me. It’s a stirring song with an appropriately heart-warming video. Channelling a boy who is harassed for his love of ballet, he gets back at the bullies by dancing in front of them. Interesting tactic – not sure how it would fare in real life – but it’s a brilliant video with a great aesthetic and some fantastic shots.
Husky – Drunk
Before heading off to Europe with a new album coming out, Husky has dropped their new video, which unsurprisingly is about alcohol. Quite simply, it’s a pretty wacky video, with wine, grapes and plates flying all over the place thanks to some heavy CGI – and even ends with a table turning into a waterfall. Possibly needs to be seen to be believed. Plus it’s a brilliant little indie tune as well.
Moses Gunn Collective – Back Into the Womb
I wonder whether Moses Gunn Collective came up with the concept for Back Into the Womb just so they could walk through an enormous fabric vagina? In any case, once they do enter it’s quite the party – with a mountain of glitter, streamers and even aluminium foil for their guitars. It fits the psychedelic song well, and unfortunately you’re guaranteed to have the line ‘back into the womb’ stuck in your head all day, and to be honest I’m not sure how I feel about that. It’s the lead single for their upcoming album Mercy Mountain.
Urban Cone – Come Back to Me
Urban Cone is back with an infectious single featuring fellow Swede Tove Lo. The video clip will make you physically yearn for summer again, with the boys heading around some spectacular beaches and towns armed with a selfie stick. While it does horrifyingly somewhat remind me of a certain One Direction song on the beach, it gets away with it with some stunning visuals.
Gengahr – Heroine
With a debut album set for release, Gengahr have released a curious little video for their latest single. Following a young man running to meet his ‘heroine’, it shows all of the camera shy band members for the first time together in a video. Channelling Sleeping Beauty, he runs to meet her unconscious body to kiss her – but not in a creepy way.
DMA’s – Laced
It’s been a very long time coming, but roughly a year after releasing the single Laced, the DMA’s finally have made an accompanying video. It’s worth the wait though. It’s an explosion of colourful fun featuring dinosaurs, eyeballs and a lot more wacky stuff going on. With the amount of seemingly unrelated symbols, I feel like I should analyse it for high school English. Even if you don’t like the video, its an excuse to listen to a killer song.
English duo Aquilo have recently come into my life, and I’m so glad they did. I haven’t stopped listening to their EP Calling Me since I’ve gotten my hands on it. Though its only four tracks, they each bring a little different something to the mix. The EP brings a chilled out atmosphere with their dreamy, electronic sound. If you’re feeling a bit stressed out, this is perfect for you.
The title single introduces us to the world of Calling Me. The track has a perfect mix of percussion and guitars, bound together by the synth beat. The vocal work quickly become one of my favourite aspects of the EP as I listened to the smooth voice; so beautiful, it touched my soul. The video made the song even more powerful with it’s tear-jerking message. Watch it below, with tissues at the ready. Following this, is the sweet opening of Put Me Down. This track made me realise how good the harmonies were. My ears were buzzing with every note. Together with the funky beat, they were magical.
Next is my personal favourite, Better Off Without You. Gotta love some good falsetto vocals. The vocals portrayed the pure emotion required to tell the story behind this song. The production of this track is incredible. Believe me, if you listen to one song from this EP, choose Better Off Without You.
Finishing with too soon with Waiting, the end comes too quickly. Most of the track includes a simple, moving piano and stunning vocals, which rise above. Other stringed instruments move in and out of the song slowly. It ends so that the voice is the last thing we hear. Just perfect.
If you’re looking for something different and new, you’ve found it here. These boys have done a fantastic job with this EP. Every element of the production is wonderful, from the vocals to the backing track. The beautiful sounds will help you unwind after a hard day, or just chill out on the weekend. If that’s your sort of thing, it will definitely have you praying for more.
Calling Me is out Friday May 29th via B3SCI / Island Records.