by Meredith Schneider | Jan 15, 2018 | albums, wolf tracks
The very end of 2017 brought us some stunner releases, and not enough time to get through it all. San Francisco’s rock outfit The Go Ahead – comprised of – Kyna Wise (vocals), Alex Mamelok (bass), Josh Hertz (guitar), and Chris Kelly (drums) – charmed us in December with the release of their latest, an EP titled In Harms Way. A six track EP birthed from struggle and existential questions, this work implores you to look deeper at your own life.
The Go Ahead wastes no time getting you right into the thick of it, beginning slowly with first track “Bones” and then luring the listener in with rough guitar and hard-hitting percussion. Wise’s vocals are like a siren, pulling you in despite your want to know – and to hear – more, at least for the first couple of minutes. Then, you might find yourself melting into her voice for the remainder of the work. (Warning: You will.) While “On My Side” slows things down, it bursts into this beautiful, mellifluous track, a pattern not dissimilar to next track “Bloodshot”. (If you don’t like the idea of blood coming out of your eyes, maybe skip this song.) “Coastline” has more of a pop feel to it, lyrics tinged with melancholy and a thirst for salt water. “About to Burst” feels just like the title might suggest, while final track “Fuel” almost drains you of your energy just by adequately enjoying the tempo and energy adjustments throughout the song.
It’s rare to find all of your own energy invested in a release from start to finish, but The Go Ahead has managed that feat with In Harms Way.
Keep up with The Go Ahead here.
by Meredith Schneider | Jan 15, 2018 | videos, wolf tracks
Seems particularly cruel when people release music videos full of references to warmer weather, or full of visuals of summer in the dead of winter. And yet, it happens all the time. At least, that’s how we feel in the northern hemisphere at this very moment. But the way Natali Felicia represents her surroundings in “This Summer is Cruel” is slightly cruel, in that it feels as though it’s promising this flash of warm weather and brilliant color, whereas the video was shot in black and white, and hosts visuals with soft breezes and – while you certainly get a glimpse of water – no real proof that it was even shot in the summer. The Stockholm-bred musician released her music video for “This Summer is Cruel” leading up to the release of her debut album, expected later this year. Her melancholic video is certainly enhanced to full-length picture quality with the robust and gorgeous tones to her vocals, indicating she is about to stake her claim on the music industry with full force.
Keep up with Natali Felicia here.
by Meredith Schneider | Jan 15, 2018 | singles, wolf tracks
Recently, the forces of Kid Moxie and Chrysanthe Tan teamed up to feature on ash.ØK’s latest single, “Chained Rebellion”. Los Angeles based indietronica talent Kid Moxie (Elena Charbila) led up to this release with her most recent dance track, the ethereal “No Island“, that dropped in December. “Chained Rebellion” exists in a completely different soundscape, a very robotic nature to the instrumentals. As futuristic as it all seems, the automation sounds mimic how many feel about what’s going on in today’s society as well. Since the song itself is about breaking free from societal and cultural expectations, we can see how the robotic approach to the track is so key. Not only that, but all three artists have achieved an introspective, highly danceable, track experience, and it speaks to our hearts on so many levels.
Keep up with Kid Moxie here.
by Meredith Schneider | Jan 15, 2018 | singles, wolf tracks
NYC-based Acid Dad is revving up to release their debut LP in March, so of course we’re getting bits and pieces of what to expect. We’re thrilled, to say the least. The quartet really brought their A game with “2Ci”, a hip shaker of a track that really lures you in from the very first, quick, energetic notes. With this track comes the now quintessential, reverb-filled, nostalgic Brit-pop Acid Dad sound, blended perfectly with modern elements and guitar riffs that could shatter your soul. something we honestly can’t get enough of. “2Ci” will put all the bounce in your step necessary to survive the week, and then it will get you through the weekend in fine form.
We guarantee it.
Acid Dad’s debut LP is expected March 9th via Greenway Records. Keep up with them here.
by Meredith Schneider | Jan 12, 2018 | soundtrack
Arkansas-bred and classically trained opera singer Bonnie Montgomery has mastered the country sound that so many have tried to. And though she may not have released some new tunes for a couple of years now, she’s hitting 2018 full force. Since 2014’s self-titled full-length, she has been crafting her sound and touring with some of the most prominent names in country and americana right now. And in February, the next chapter of it all begins with the release of her new album Forever.
So while we’ve got that on your radar, Bonnie has crafted a really interesting – and very fun – playlist especially for us. So check out what she has to say below, and perhaps let her control your productivity for a while.
This list a mirror of my new concept album and the things, like Willie Nelson, that inspired it. It’s meant for blasting on a drive in far west Texas, volume up and top down.
Keep up with Bonnie via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and her website.
by Meredith Schneider | Jan 12, 2018 | singles, wolf tracks
Norway-bred duo The Other End – comprised of Ida Knoph-Solholm and Alexander Breidvik – is taking their musical prowess and vast talents from prior successful projects and throwing everything they have into their new project, which is due to release an EP in March. But until then, we’ve got one of your first listens to their brand new single “Far from Home”. The song exists at a slower tempo, focusing little on the instrumentals and allowing the beautiful, robust vocals and intense lyrics to take center stage. Fitting, since the song is actually about a real life struggle through almost losing a loved one when you’re not quite ready for it and have no way of reversing it. It’s a feeling of hopelessness, but the song itself is much more uplifting than that feeling.
Give it a spin, and let us know what you think in the comments.
Their EP is expected out in mid-March. Keep up with The Other End here.
by Meredith Schneider | Jan 11, 2018 | premieres, singles, wolf tracks
New Jersey-based alt-rock collective Red Black Red is revving up to release their new album Resettlement on March 2nd. But while we’re twiddling our thumbs waiting for that beast of a record, we’ve actually got a taste of what’s to come with their new track “Kindness”. The song itself is intriguing as all get out, as it feels subtly off-kilter where the instrumentals line up with the vocals. That quirk happens to make it that more enjoyable, as the listener explores the intense and experimental soundscape before them.
Resettlement is out March 2nd. Keep up with Red Black Red here.
by Meredith Schneider | Jan 10, 2018 | albums, wolf tracks
Recently, Lakeland, Florida alternative musician Luke Wilmoth released a four track EP that is absolutely blissful to listen to. First track “Slow Dance” makes us feel ready for late spring nights, early summer evenings with the light glow of the sun on our shoulders as we bathe ourselves in rose colored glasses. In fact, it’s that easy-going feeling of summertime outdoors in the heat that this EP evokes for us. Which, honestly, as misplaced as that may seem in the midst of the crazy weather we’ve been having, it actually provides a soundscape escape that really adds color to those gray, dreary days that have been flooding our collective existence lately.
“San Pellegrino” feels like turn of the century indie to us, the most positive sounds to a song that has many more layers than you could realize with just one listen. “I Took Your Picture Off the Wall” resembles that same time period, and that isn’t just because of the novel-like title of the track. Light as a feather rock really keeps our hips swaying, and once again we can’t do anything but imagine ourselves singing along to this at an outdoor venue with Wilmoth himself leading us on vocals. Fourth track “Pinwheel” rounds it all out very nicely, a slight amount of additional edge to it with deeper guitar riffs and harder hitting percussion. Don’t get us wrong, the song still belongs at the ending of your next blockbuster romantic comedy, but it’s beautiful and endearing in its sound, enough to make us look forward to celebrating life and love this year.
Keep Luke Wilmoth on your radar by following him here.
by Meredith Schneider | Jan 10, 2018 | singles, wolf tracks
Helsinki-based lo-fi psych pop trio Lake Jons is about to release their self-titled debut. But before that, they gave us the last taste of it all with their track “Lake Family”, a light and airy experience that gives us just a hint of that particular brand of nostalgia Lake Jons has become known for. (Any song with clapping or snapping in it feels intrinsically positive, no matter the topic. Am I right?) The vocals hit you raspy, beautiful and intense, while the percussion gives you an insatiable desire to dance.
Let us know how much Lake Jons makes you want to dance in the comments below!
Their self-titled debut is out January 19th via AntiFragle Music. It is available for pre-order here. Keep up with Lake Jons here.
