Indie rock outfit Cloud Cult has just released their LP album Alchemy Creek via the band’s very own Earthology records. Alchemy Creek consists of 11 songs including the beautiful recently-released single “The Universe Woke Up As You”, which can be read about here.
I can’t cover the first song of this album without gushing about its musicality. “Got Your Backpack Open That Backdoor” opens with a beautiful violin solo; rock music elements really shine through in the latter half of the song, as an electric guitar and drums carry the melody. The vocals, provided by Cloud Cult’s showman Craig Minowa, are sandwiched in between amazing instrumentals.
“I Am A Force Field” has a refreshingly techno-like beat. Despite its sci-fi vibe, the lyrics are clearly written as letters to one’s younger self. The song plays into the childlike desire to have superpowers and be invincible. In a more mature perspective, this would be the equivalent of being emotionally resilient and putting up a figurative ‘force field’ to protect oneself from any pain. I absolutely love the reference to Winnie the Pooh in this song– he’s my favorite fictional character of all time!
“Vision In A Field” is intended for those lacking mindfulness. Some people are so overwhelmed with everything that is going on and need to dissociate to a safe space, such as an open field as the song title implies. The song encourages the idea that sometimes it’s okay to run away from it all, especially if your circumstances are deteriorating your mental health.
“One Human Being” again pays tribute to the sci-fi theme this album embodies, yet it is oddly enough the most uniform song of the whole album– with a consistent tone and chord played throughout. The violin riff adds to the lull and calmness of the melody. Lyrics-wise, this song reinforces the fact that Alchemy Creek is an ode to youth. It’s about the desire to go back in time and guide one’s younger self, as diction like “we” or “my kid” refers to one’s inner child.
The meat of this album is “Tonight I Run Away”, a nostalgic song that reminds me greatly of the children’s book “Where the Wild Things Are” by Maurice Sendak. The meaning of the song is in the title: whoever is singing this song is on the run from something. It’s amazingly carefree, in both the melody and lyrics. It is by far my song of the whole album!
“Over And Out” provides a refreshing break from the pure rock elements of this album. The acoustic guitar and harmonica duo give this song a soulful country feel. The lyrics are as if Minowa is talking to someone through a radio and can only say a few words at a time. Out of everything he could say, he chooses to let the receiver know ‘it’ll get better.’ This song does an amazing job of illustrating the emotional pain he is going through.
“Something In Me Is Changing” is where Cloud Cult’s signature rock music makes a comeback. This is a great song to listen to if you are ready for a big change. Minowa, who I am assuming is talking to his younger self once again, contemplates leaving his small hometown for opportunities that are bigger and better– a very relatable desire for young people who are fed up with what their current life has to offer.
And of course, I cannot finish this album review without discussing Cloud Cult’s music video for their melancholy single “As Beautiful As It Hurts”. Our main man Minowa is seen playing a grand piano, illuminated by the sun shining through an open door. He’s rocking back and forth, implying he is hurting and is physically trying to comfort himself. In the next scene, Minowa is outside overlooking a shallow creek; he lets his bare feet touch the clear water. My favorite verse in the song is:
Try to make the most of my life Though I make mistakes all the time Forgive my foolish pride But please know I tried I need to think it’s going to be alright I need to think it’s going to be alright
When Minowa appears back at the piano, his chordophone music is accompanied by a beautiful violin solo at the last minute of the song. Because this video can be watched on YouTube Kids, it is once again reinforced that Cloud Cult makes family-friendly content that everyone can relate to.
“Let It All Out” is highlighted by its distinct, almost ethereal music sequence. I can see the intro being played as background music to many mindful yoga sessions. The violin and accompanying percussion instruments do a wonderful job of evoking an out-of-body experience. The drum beat picks up in the middle of the song, almost as if summoning the only lyrics of the song: “Let it all out. Let it all go all out.” This song is clearly about cathartic release, which is why it is fitting that this song is the longest out of the whole album.
The last song “Different Kind Of Day” perfectly sums up the entirety of Alchemy Creek. It’s self-deprecating, and a little sad, but hopeful and encouraging by the end. As the title implies, Minowa is betting on a ‘different kind of day.’ And as the music picks up, we as listeners all hope that today will be a better day. I hope you all enjoy the album as much as I did!
Confirmed Cloud Cult US Headline Tour Dates & Festivals: August 9 @ People Festival in Yuba, WI August 28 @ The Sinclair in Boston, MA August 29 @ Le Poisson Rouge in New York, NY (Almost Sold-Out!) August 30 @ World Café Live in Philadelphia, PA August 31 @ Summer Entertainment Series in Fairfax, VA September 12 @ Neptune Theatre in Seattle, WA September 13 @ Aladdin Theater in Portland, OR September 27 @ Palace Theater in St. Paul, MN September 28 @ Palace Theater in St. Paul, MN (Sold-Out!) Alchemy Creek Tour continues in January including Nashville, Atlanta, Durham, Charleston, & more
There’s nothing like a good alternative rock release, and the self-titled debut EP from Soft No fits that bill entirely perfectly. Soft No came out only last week from the Philly-based band, made up of childhood friends Scott Signorino (guitar), Allie Lannutti (vocals, bass), Austin Lotz (guitar), Jon Martello (drums), and Kate Lowe (keyboard/synth). It features five tracks that were all produced by the band with Mark Watter, who’s done audio engineering work for both Alex G and Hop Along. Soft No has only been together for a little over a year now, with their sound still somewhat loose, with inspirations from several alt-rock subgenres and local Philly music scenes. This includes modern indie rock, 90s grunge, emo, metal, and most prominently – a lot of noisy shoegaze.
All of Soft No’s tracks are well-crafted pieces of noisy, dense, and heavy psychedelia that persistently grab your attention, even if they may lack distinction from each other. For a release that’s only five songs and 16 minutes long, this isn’t necessarily a bad thing. It functions more as a quick introduction to the band and their talents as opposed to an album that’s more chronological and focused as a full experience. Each track is wonderfully noisy and drenched in layers of instruments and textures. The opener “Keeping Tabs” earns comparison to classic noise rock acts like My Bloody Valentine, with the guitar playing and distortion being consistently impeccable throughout the album. Most of the other songs follow a similar formula with minor differences, such as touches of grunge on “Take Your Word”, metal on “Descender”, and an uptempo garage/punk sound on “Melting Timelines”. The latter tracks are easily my favorites, being just as abrasive as well as enjoyable and fun to rock out to. With a lot of shoegaze and noise rock, the vocals tend to blend into the background, but it feels more intentional here as they function more like an instrument in themselves. I also think the drumming and bass playing are key to many of these songs, as they provide a dynamic rhythm that keeps the songs from becoming too focused on atmosphere. Still, I’d like to hear more of the vocals and lyrics in later releases, even if they’re not what the band currently chooses to emphasize.
Soft No’s debut EP is instantly recommendable to fans of abrasive, heavy alt-rock and shoegaze, and really impressed me as I listened to it. The band’s tight chemistry is center-stage throughout, and I hope they keep working together when creating a more focused LP in the future.
Up-and-coming artist Libby Tisler just released (and by just, I mean literally today) her newest single, the pretty and poppy “Age of Reason”. This is the third single leading into the Nashville-based singer-songwriter’s debut EP, Hopping Dimensions, to be released September 27th. It follows two previous singles, “End of an Era” and “The Artist” respectively, with a fourth titled “Visine” to be released September 4th. Tisler, being such a new artist, has yet to fully define herself musically, but her previous songs have helped showcase what works with her voice. With producer Alex Bonyata (of the indie group The Young Something), her recent singles have showcased dreamy, atmospheric slices of indie-pop with 808 drum beats or stripped-down acoustic guitars. As a songwriter, Tisler exudes confidence and allows herself to be open to her audiences with personal lyrics and authentic emotions.
“Age of Reason” is a very good single, and maybe the best of the three released so far for Hopping Dimensions. It functions as a more straightforward, up-tempo indie-rock song that pops wonderfully and gives Libby a chance to be a more dynamic personality. Her singing has a good range of emotion, with a slight country or folk vibe in her inflection, and the background vocal harmonies add to an enjoyable and breezy pop song. The cover art for the single, depicting Tisler in a sea-green dress against a woodland environment drenched in soft sunlight, perfectly captures the aesthetics and feel of the song.
With Libby Tisler’s career being quite fresh and young, a strong single such as “Age of Reason” helps continue to spotlight her as a new talent to watch out for. “Age of Reason” is available now, along with “End of an Era” and “The Artist”, as teasers for her upcoming debut EP Hopping Dimensions coming September 27th.
Despite their recognition being mainly limited to the UK, I love Glasgow-based rock band Primal Scream. Part of the group’s appeal is their wide range of playing styles and music genres. Starting out as an indie-pop band with almost no traction, they reached massive levels of success with 1991’s Screamadelica, which broke musical boundaries by combining their sound with dub, psychedelia, and acid house into something entirely their own. It’s still considered their magnum opus and remains a cultural landmark in both the UK’s indie-rock and rave scenes. Despite their huge new audience, they still continued to push themselves in wildly new directions with their following releases. These include 1994’s blues pastiche Give Out But Don’t Give Up, 1997’s experimental Vanishing Point, and 2000’s blaring industrial-noise-dance epic XTRMNTR. Recently, Primal Scream put out the lead single for their upcoming 12th LP, Come Ahead, titled “Love Insurrection”. This comes eight years after their last release, 2016’s Chaosmosis.
“Love Insurrection” is based on nostalgia in a few ways. The cover for both the single and album is a vintage photograph of Robert Gillespie Sr., father of lead vocalist Bobby Gillespie. I believe this is to relate to the 60s both visually and lyrically, as the lyrics talk about political and social turmoil. Musically, it’s a bit of a throwback to the sound that Primal Had on Screamadelica, featuring a funky “Madchester” shuffle beat, psychedelic wah-wah guitars, and breezy percussion and flutes. However, it keeps the sound fresh by adding influences from 70s soul, with a lush string section reminiscent of seminal artists like Curtis Mayfield who also addressed social consciousness in their work. As usual, the backing vocalists provided by the band give the music a soulful, almost gospel-type feel, not unlike previous Screamadelica singles “Movin’ On Up” or “Come Together”.
The single’s release comes with both a 6-minute full version and a shortened edit at 3 ½ minutes. Both versions are perfectly adequate depending on the type of listener you are, but I definitely recommend the longer cut if you’re willing to ride the groove as the song climaxes in a way that’s both beautiful and groovy. As it stands, “Love Insurrection” is a perfect song for psychedelic raves or summer beach parties, and signals a possible return to form from Primal Scream.
Annie J‘s genre-bending sound is not stereotypical of Seattle–with its grunge and alt-rock history–though her artistic confidence is something that powerhouse artists out of the PNW have held a torch over for decades. Her new single titled “Your Power” is a further demonstration of that confidence, though the sonic approach is very different than you would expect from a song of that name.
Though the upcoming EP (Been Loving You) will be Annie J’s first solo project, she has demonstrated her talent well with impactful artists for years, including The True Loves, Odesza, The Dip, and Allen Stone. “Your Power” is light-as-a-feather in lyrics and composition, inducing goosebumps with each new, impactful line.
Admits Annie of the single:
Imagine embodying that voice in your head, the one you hear from time to time that seems to say: “Hey, I’ve been here loving you the whole time. You can heal, and grow and reach for joy.” This song, to me, is remembering that a patient inner voice exists, though she’s sometimes quiet compared to the rest. And knowing I will fall, again and again, and there will always be a way back,” she continues.
Refreshing indie pop duo Lime Cordiale just released their full-length album Enough of The Sweet Talk on July 26th. The LP comprises 13 songs separated by four “French Cue” interludes. After listening to the whole album, I couldn’t help but compare their music to The Wiggles, an Australian-based music group known for their iconic tunes. Sure enough, after doing some research, Lime Cordiale hails from Sydney, Australia, and gives off the same vibes as the aforementioned, but with a mature coming-of-age twist.
The band is made up of brothers Louis and Oliver Leimbach, later joined by Brendan Champion on the trombone and James Jennings on the drums. The musicality of the album at its core is pop, with hints of indie rock shining through in the latter half of the album. The drums, electric guitar, and trombone make regular appearances throughout the album, with an electronic keyboard as a fun cameo added to a few of the songs.
The first part of the album feels amazingly carefree and pays tribute to romantic relationships. “Pedestal” and “The Milk Man” are perfect songs to jam out to, so much so that they paint vivid pictures many can relate to, whether it be slow-dancing at prom or having a summer fling at the beach. I can already see myself listening to these songs while I’m getting ready for a special night out!
“The Facts of Life” is where the album breaks out into more of a self-reflective realm. In my opinion, the song encourages you to pay attention to your surroundings and enjoy the smaller things life has to offer: chewing gum, ice cream, the birds and bees. Alternatively, “The Facts of Life” could also imply the feeling of sexual release, as evocative hot-and-cool imagery is used throughout the song. The next piece “Enough of The Sweet Talk” is as literal as it can get. As a listener, you can’t help but empathize with the brothers. Leimbach states that talking with this person (I assume a romantic partner) is frustrating because they truly won’t listen to him; it’s all meaningless sweet talk. Even if they share the meaning of life or the world is ending and they need someone to rely on, he still wouldn’t talk to them– opting to be alone despite such drastic conditions.
This brings me to my favorite piece of the entire album: “Happiness Season”. It’s a beautiful song wherein each lyric is punctuated by the drum’s beat and accentuated by an impressive trombone riff. Additionally, this piece really highlights the Leimbach brothers’ talents as tenor vocalists! My favorite part is the chorus:
She didn’t need me, I’ve been defeated, Oh that’s how it goes in happiness season She didn’t need me, I’ve been defeated, Oh that’s how it goes, imagine her leaving, with happiness season~
“When I’m Losing It” is where the album takes a serious turn. In this song, Leimbach is, for lack of a better term, head-over-heels crazy about his lover. He admits he gets jealous easily and always loses his nonchalance when he’s around her. Accompanying this self-deprecating streak are “Imposter Syndrome” and “The Big Reveal; Ou L’Hypocrite”. Both songs reveal feelings of bittersweet inadequacy. Leimbach doesn’t see his own appeal and cannot accept a compliment for his life. Leimbach is hiding a big secret under his stardom and it’s the fact that he’s a hypocrite living with imposter syndrome. To be honest I can see many young adults of my generation (Gen Z) relating to these songs the most. At the end of the day, whether we hold mid- to senior-level positions or amass thousands of followers, at one point in our lives we’ve all experienced imposter syndrome.
Another amazing song I would like to spotlight is “Country Club”. The lengthy trombone solo, reminiscent of New Orleans jazz, graciously allows listeners a moment to reflect on the message of the song. “Country Club” has an oddly psychedelic feel to it, with a catchy and hilarious chorus. This song narrates the life of a ‘nepo baby’ who cannot rely on their parent’s money anymore. Despite its advantages, having rich parents can actually be a disservice as the person in question doesn’t know how the real world works. Overall, it’s a great message anyone can take away from.
Ultimately, Enough of The Sweet Talk provides listeners with a wonderful range of life messages to learn from. In addition to love and heartbreak, the album touches upon the importance of self-reliance, staying humble, and the harm caused by your inner critic. These songs are going to be on repeat in my summer playlist and–dare I say– years to come!
