Dick Prall is a sentimental man. The Iowa-based indie rock singer-songwriter has been going by the nickname his mother affectionately knew him by, Dickie, for the last decade as he’s unraveled his genius on the world. His talents have led him in a variety of directions musically over the last few years, but the same heart is at the center of every piece.
Dickie’s latest offering, Head Full of Hiss, is an EP that is equal parts honest and beautiful. The first track “Shakes You” is the piece’s gorgeous new single, and we are absolutely enthralled by it. The almost five-minute song is soft and folksy in its presentation early on. This allows you to be humbled by the man’s incredible vocal range.
At 2 minutes and 40 seconds in, the instrumentation becomes bolder and more drawn out. The song is from an observer’s perspective, identifying strength in another person. Wanting to emulate someone is such a bold form of flattery, but it is also a self-acknowledgment that there is room for improvement. And while the lyrics are a bit vague at times, there is a strength to it all that give this song strength to the ever-present, supportive, affirmative line “No one ever shakes you.” It feels brought to life in this moment, a song cut in two, a journey with a definitive “before” and “after.”
Dickie’s thought-provoking music is heartfelt, layered with emotion and raw talent in a unique and, honestly, addictive way. The new EP feels like the right listen at the right time.
“Shakes You” is now streaming everywhere you listen to music!
In unfortunate timing, this is my *37th* article for this website. Just one off, huh? Anyway, indie-psychedelic band 36? have put out a new single titled “i don’t want to go out tonight”. This is the fourth single to come from the Calgary-based group this year, after “wasted”, “FEERS”, and “ART”; with their latest LP being 2022’s Naturally. Their sound is an eclectic mix of sources, with influences ranging from hazy alt-pop and art rock, and comparisons to bands like Animal Collective or even Bleachers. Many of their lyrics, from the band’s producer and songwriter Taylor Cochrane, deal with personal subjects awash in sincerity and emotional qualities.
“i don’t want to go out tonight” is more laid-back than their more recent singles, with an indie-folk sound led by Hawaiian-sounding acoustic guitar and a breezy beach atmosphere. It’s very sweet sounding with a heartfelt performance from Cochrane and cutesy backing vocal harmonies. It also features a wonderfully abrasive guitar solo characteristic of a lot of their work, though it still fits against a different musical backdrop. Lyrically, it’s a tribute to introversion and taking time for yourself even when it means avoiding energy-draining social activities. The lyrics and the music match perfectly, creating a vibe throughout the track that’s cozy and comforting. 36? have crafted a great summer single in “i don’t want to go out tonight”, a song that’s drenched with both positive energy and relaxation.
The band is currently on tour throughout North America, with more music still in the works.
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.
A band that’s recently popped up on my radar is the LA-based indie/electronic duo Pop Noir, led by Manchester-born brothers Joe and Luke McGarry. Several influences inform their sound, namely vintage dance-rock acts like New Order, Primal Scream, and Depeche Mode, as well as more modern house/techno inspirations. While the band has been intermittently active for years, it’s been more of a side project as the two focus on other exploits, with their main pursuits being illustration/animation for Luke and filmmaking for Joe. However, new singles by the pair have been more consistently released in the past year, with their slickly produced cover of U2’s “New Year’s Day” and a ska-throwback titled “Santa Ana”.
Their newest single released earlier this month, titled “Soul Train”, expands on the band’s diverse musical trajectory while remaining lively and danceable. While previous singles like “White Jazz” were more uptempo and obvious in their highly danceable retro-rave influences, “Soul Train” diverts a bit from the band’s usual repertoire. It still has an enjoyable sound, but focuses more on introspection and vulnerability in the lyrics and performances. Luke McGarry’s vocals, clearly echoing Bernard Sumner, have more range that he didn’t get to explore on previous singles. He’s allowed to bring his voice to a falsetto on the chorus and even some crooning here and there, showcasing more of his talents. Musically, this has more of an emphasis on a killer big-band horn section and orchestral elements as opposed to the synths and drum machines that characterized their other work. It’s entirely unique and brings out the more dramatic qualities that the song is going for.
As of now, “Soul Train” doesn’t have any connection to a future EP or LP and currently serves as a standalone single. Still, it shows the duo as worth looking out for as they continue their still-young musical journey.
