by Meredith Schneider | Jan 16, 2018 | albums, wolf tracks
Sheetal Singh – former bassist for San Francisco noise pop wonder The Stratford 4 – is going in a different direction with her music, revving up to release a self-titled mini-album under her moniker Forest Bees. Originally driven by her desire to incorporate her familial history into her work, Forest Bees morphed into this beautiful – punk pitchy in its presentation, but almost earthy in tone – piece that gives the listener the impression that the musician is simultaneously experiencing an awakening of sorts.
And perhaps she did. She transformed while creating this art, and you can hear it in the soundscape. “Independence Day” is a bit of a dance track, while “Hollow Bones” fills a deeper, more primal, place in your body with differing instrumentals. While “Golden Dream” is void of the vocal warmth we would otherwise deduce from the title, we’re mesmerized by how she can still evoke a beautiful instrumental section amidst the rough, almost static, sounds that overlay the entire track. “Off Color” comes in from left field, with a hard-hitting percussion section that comes off as wonderfully experimental in tone, though the song feels more mainstream-headed than its predecessors, and we do not mean that as a negative connotation. Singh expertly rounds out the album with “Dust”, perhaps the most alluring of the five tracks. Composed of several differing tempos, this song could be equally enjoyed on a long drive, sitting with friends during wine night, and dancing in a basement club in The Village at 2am.
Forest Bees’ record release show will take place The Hemlock, San Francisco on January 25th with N. Lannon and Alexsarah. Tickets are available here. Forest Bees is available for preorder now.
by Kayla Hutton | Jan 16, 2018 | singles, wolf tracks
Frigs. A dirty, grungy, punk sounding band from Toronto Canada that has applied the perfect amount of monotone “don’t care” attitude with catchy choral melodies. The music itself is a little hard to define or pigeonhole into a specific genre. So those of you who when asked, “What kind of music do you listen to?” and refrain from spewing out genre after sub-genre after made-up genre, and respond by saying, “everything”, this is for you.
The subtle amount of heated amplifier tubes follows suit with my description of sounding dirty and grungy, however, there is a subtle aspect of experimental musicianship that demands respect. I doubt it’s accidental talent that there are overtones applied to this track that isn’t taught in music theory but should be. Leonard Bernstein stated that a single pitch contains an infinite number of pitches. Within those pitches lay a hidden key that allows music to convey emotion.
Frigs has hit that key allowing them to not only capture a distinct sound but create an atmosphere for the listener. “Talking pictures” starts dark and dreary yet the chorus has that steady hi-hat tapping that you will find your head bobbing in sync with.
For those of us who were waiting for Courtney Love to learn how to sing (still waiting), we can now give up and turn our focus to Bria. She goes right where Love fell flat. The best part is when you think this girl just sings, you get a guttural scream, “Do you see it?” It doesn’t make this track heavy, it is what is, a boldly stated question. Here Frigshas laid out a soundscape and painted a mental picture. I saw it. “Do you see it?”
Side Note – According to their website Frigs will be on tour starting March 2018 in Canada and some states in the U.S. My only complaint is this, there is no stop in Phoenix, Arizona.
However their album
Basic Behaviour comes out
Feb 23, 2018. Keep up with Frigs
here.
by Kayla Hutton | Jan 16, 2018 | singles, wolf tracks
Missing that “spark” in your playlist?
Mankind Is Obsolete, often referred to as “MKIO,” is a female-fronted electro-rock band based in Los Angeles, California. Formed in 2002 by drummer Jon Siren and vocalist Natasha Cox. Our focus is on the track “On fire again” from the bands’ 5th release titled Mobius Loop. “On Fire Again” begins with music that could be the perfect theme song for those who have ever felt beaten down by life, love, or any other element, and have reached that point where the light begins to shine through the crack in the wall and you feel strength return to every muscle in your body. The chorus acts as the first verse and with good reason. With such a powerful start, it’s amazing that the song stays just as strong when the verse begins and the only sound is provided by the bass and drums. Natasha’s voice comes through and it seems as though the words and intent would still be the same even if she were humming along. You not only hear the words and comprehend their meaning, you feel it in the way she is singing.
The song as a whole will give you that motivating feeling of wanting the excitable exhilaration you get when your crush becomes love, or when you take your favorite drive and there is no other obstacle stopping you from just punching the gas. “On Fire Again” is definitely a driving force that needs to be added to your playlist.
Keep up with the band at MKIO.com.
by Meredith Schneider | Jan 16, 2018 | videos, wolf tracks
If you’re looking to be the fan of an act that truly looks and feels 70s, something to really throw you back in time? Rock collective Lovehoney – expertly comprised of Alysia Quinones, Tommy White, Thomas Gehlhaus, and Matt Saleh – is your next muse, and we can all but guarantee that. They recently released their brand new music video for the entrancing single “Feelin’ No Way”, though the video truly gets us a glimpse inside their live performance chops.
Recorded live at Site B Studios in the epicenter of music – New York City, New York – “Feelin’ No Way” allows us a peak at how the band operates on stage, and the vocals, the hard guitars, the outfits, the tapestry, the jewel-toned lighting and shots of an old camera… everything about it just captivates us and brings us back in time. Check it out, then let us know what you think in the comments!
Keep up with Lovehoney via Facebook and at lovehoneymusic.com.
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 | 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 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.
by Meredith Schneider | Jan 8, 2018 | singles, wolf tracks
London-based indie pop artist Natalie Shay is truly making her mark across the pond, having won multiple awards for her musical ambitions, and having sold out crowds at some of the city’s most well-known venues. Her signature blend is one of upbeat intensity, the vocals hitting points of twang every so often. This, in itself, adds a layer to the sound, setting her apart from other mainstream pop artists of the day. “This Feeling” is a definitive hip-shaker, brilliantly created to energize and excite its audience.
Check out this impossibly positive new track below, and perhaps make it your anthem of 2018 and new beginnings!
Keep up with Natalie Shay here.
by Meredith Schneider | Jan 5, 2018 | singles, wolf tracks
Los Angeles-based self-proclaimed “spooky/tribal/blues” artist SPELLES released her first track of 2018 mere hours ago, and we’re big, big fans already. “Light Me On Fire” feels just the way you’d expect, like an old western meets the deepest, darkest emotions you could feel, all wrapped together with these gorgeous, deep, vocals that – at times – are reminiscent of Christina Aguilera.
Like her pseudonym, SPELLES captures you with an almost magical intuition for what will work and make the listener feel like they can absolutely destroy the world. We can’t wait to hear what’s next from this up-and-comer, and what feelings we have yet to experience with her.
SPELLES EP is out now. Keep up with SPELLES here.
