iTunes Single of the week #15

Hi,

This week the free download on iTunes was "A Lunar Veteran's guide to Re-entry" by Paul Thomas Saunders.

Paul Thomas Saunders is a physch and indie one man band from Leeds, England. He says he is influenced by people like Joe Meek, The Tornadoes, Emo Phillips and Lou Reed.

Review:
This is very much a phsych song, with haunting electro twirls and acoustic guitar twanging in an almost folky way. Although the music and vocals are most definitely not folk! The space age soundscape creates amazing effects, the vocals are distant and soft with mesmerizing tones and a mysterious edge. You need really good speakers or headphones to listen to this song because the surround sound and potential for a 3D sounding track are used to their full extent by Saunders. There is a fabulous soundscape created in this song which is great to relax and listen to.

Overall, this is a really well crafted piece of music 9/10

iTunes Single of the week #14

Hi,

This week's free download was "Feel of love" by Tensnake & Jacques Lu Cont ft. Jamie Lidell.

Tensnake is a 38 year-old house and electronica music producer and DJ from Germany. Jacques Lu Cont is a 36 year-old electronic, synthpop, house and electroclash DJ, songwriter and record producer from North Yorkshire, England. Jamie Lidell is a 40 year-old soul, funk and electronica artist from Cambridgeshire, England.

Review:
This funky, electronica track is constructed with layers, adding on more slowly but surely. The steamy beats with electronic 'noises' behind the start off, then adding electric bass bringing more melody and variation. The alternative-techno vocals are brought in next. The tone of them are not to my taste as they are too high pitched, undefined and warble-y. They don't sound like they are quite right, or like thy have found their proper style yet. As there isn't much vocal melody, they aren't the main attraction which is fine when you have a strong backing to fill out the spaces and cushion the lyrics. This track doesn't have either. This is very much a '90s techno-pop track which doesn't really appeal to me.

Overall, I think this song hasn't got much cop but isn't un-listeninable. 5/10

iTunes Single of the week #13

Hi,

This week iTunes' free single was "Walk this way" by MØ.

MØ is a Danish soul, pop, electronica, R&B and alternative dance singer/songwriter who is rapidly making herself known for the right reasons. She is from Odense in Denmark and is 25 years old. She has one EP out called bikini daze and one LP called no mythologies to follow, which came out on March 10th this year.

Review:

This track is electronica but cleverly constructed with fast up-tempo choruses and slowed down more relaxing verses that are similar to '90s pop. MØ's voice is high pitched and a has youthful tone but the techniques she uses sound mature and skilled. Almost all the way through she has recorded at least one more track of her vocals on top of the main lyrics. This effect is often not used very well but MØ uses it to it's full potential in my opinion with great outcomes! The track starts straight away with street party like beats and her main vocals cushioned in the echoed effect which sounds great. This song is so catchy with quite simple and popp-y lyrics but with really effective hooks! 

Overall I think this song is really pretty good, so I will give it 8/10.

iTunes Single of the week #12

Hi,

So, it's that time of the week again. This week's free single was "Thinkin Aboutchu" by Dan Croll.

Dan Croll is a 23 year old indie-rock/pop, folktronica, pop-rock artist from Newcastle. He has one album out called Sweet Disarray which came out on March 10th this year.

Review:
So I know you shouldn't judge a book by it's cover but my immediate response when I first saw the title was: this is either going to be an awful, generic electro-pop track or it's an ironic name and a really fun original piece of music. To be honest it's neither of these. This is indie-electro-pop with prominent but simple bass guitar at the beginning leaving space for the vocals to grow, but they really don't. The vocals are very simple and reserved which can be good, but in this case are boring. There are times when you feel the vocals should stretch out and show full potential but just stay on one level throughout. The backing music is quite catchy but nothing very special or unique.

Overall, this track has some good points but it's boring and not a song that you can listen to very often without wanting to rip off your headphones. I think it deserves 3/10!

iTunes Single of the week #11

Hi,

I haven't done one of these for a while but here we go....
This week's was "Rockstar" by A great big world.

A great big world are an indie-pop/ indie rock duo from New York. They have one album out called "is there anybody put there?".

Review:
This indie-pop/rock song is catchy and gets you dancing. The lyrics are great and really well written. The piano is a jazzy and it helps keep a steady tune all the way through which is missing in a lot songs like this. The electric guitar fits nicely with the lyrics and is cleverly put in at the right times to give us the person's dream. The singer is very talented, sounding comfortable with the fast moving tune but not keeping the melody safe. I really love this track with the texture changing rapidly, the vocals adapting to this all the way through and the amazing piano and guitar work. A really great song! Definitely should be downloaded while it still can be!

Overall, I really love this song so 8/10!

iTunes Single of the week #10

Hi,

This week iTune's free single of the week was "Gone (feat. Mahut Mondino)" by Supreme Cuts.

Supreme Cuts are a pair of electronic, dubstep artists from Chicago. They have on album "Divine Ecstasy" and one EP "Trouble" on iTunes. Mahut Mondino is a singer/songwriter from Paris. She has two singles out on iTunes, not including this one.

Review:
This track is electronic-pop but has indie hints to it. The intro is so beautiful, a piano playing gorgeous moving chords over a simple twinkly melody is just unbelievably wonderful. I kept rewinding the song and listening to it again and again. Listening to it you think you're in for a gentle, beautiful piano ballad, but soon the singer and electro beats bursts through which I find ruins the moment. The piano is kept all the way through but overshadowed by electro-pop beats, which is a shame. The rest of the song is much the same, the singer is talented and the vocals are great but is high pitched all the way through and can get irritating. Her first note escapes through the soft piano with airy, light softness but we also hear the strength of her voice. Mahut Mondino is one to watch I think but this whole track is too electro-pop club beat-y for me!

Overall, purely for the piano and the vocals, I will give it 6/10.

iTunes Single of the week #9

Hi,

So this week's free single of the week was "Dripping Down" by East India Youth.

East India Youth has one album: "Total strife forever" and one EP: "Hostel". He is William Doyle, a 22-year-old multi-instrumentalist from Bournemouth.

 Review:
This track is an indie-grunge with electronic tones. I really like the vocalist, he has a deep but soft and gentle voice. Although he can get a bit monotonous at times, we hear his talent when he moves pitches. About three quarters of the way through we think the song has finished but it carries on with the backing removed but we hear gorgeous harmonies, these are haunting and so well written with beautiful changes in chords and dynamics. I could listen to those as a whole song! The song starts off with the vocals sung relatively high, but these are soon brought down again to the nasal slightly samey tones of the rest of the track. I love the harmonies behind the main vocalist. The backing is electric and with Caribbean drum beats, I like this but only with the more indie-grunge vocals.

Overall I would give this song 7/10, for the beautiful ending.

iTunes Single of the week #8

Hi,

The single this week was "British Weather" by Decade.

Decade are a 5 piece indie-rock, alternative grunge band from Bath. They have one self titled EP and one full album called "Good luck" out.

(I usually put a picture of the single cover but I can't find a reasonable quality one anywhere on the internet!! Sorry!)

Review:
This band are not really original or unique but they do have talent, it's a bit dull and samey. They sound so much like fall out boy that they aren't really defined as a band. It is just your average indie rock song, nothing very different or special! I think the band do have some merit as they are talented, but it's been done before boys! The song passes the time and it is not so bad you can't listen to it, it's just boring and fades into the background. The vocalist has tones of American grunge pop which makes it sound a bit too pretentious for my tastes.

Overall this song is good but dull and average. I will give it 4/10!

iTunes Single of the week review #7

Hi,

So this week's single was "This haze" by Patterns.

Patterns are a 4 piece indie-drone pop band. They have 2 albums out: Dangerous intentions and Walking Lines. I would recommend them if you like "Of monsters and men" or "Kodaline". 

Review:

Patterns have a high pitched singer which I admit is an acquired taste, but can be so gorgeous! I love the intro with the mysterious guitar drone and "wobbly" notes sung! They have a sophisticated electronic sound but definitely indie with elements of pop. The guitar twangs are just so lovely and there is a gorgeous backing keyboard drone. The crashing drums add extra texture that gives depth and makes the song feel fuller and more like a whole piece of music. My only complaint would be that its a bit samey and can get boring listening to it.

Overall I really like this, it has some great depth to it, but its very slightly samey and boring. I would give it 8/10!

iTunes Single of the week Review #6

Hi,

So the iTunes single this week is "Holding onto heaven" by Foxes.

Foxes is a 24 year old pop and electronic singer from Southampton. She has one EP out called Warrior that came out in May 2012.

Review:
The intro starts with electronic twinkly notes, then she starts singing and we hear breathy, gentle, girly vocals that sound slightly croaky and distressed. Her voice is poppy but she is quite talented. When the first chorus is played it starts to get a bit charty, sounding like the generic mainstream artists. She does sing with surprising emotion and you can't deny that she has talent even if that sort of singing isn't your cup of tea. I love the last part where she sings with just piano chords and strings, I don't think her voice needs to be weighed down with all the poppy texture that it was before. The last bit sounds lighter and more free. The track ends with the same twinkly notes it started with, which I like.

Overall, I think there are some really great elements to this song, so I'll give it 6/10.

iTunes Single of the week #5

Hi,

So this week's single was "3005" by Childish Gambino.

Childish Gambino is a 30 year old hip-hop rapper and musician from Los Angeles.

Review:
The intro is electronic abrupt beats which carry on all the way through. At the beginning he sings and the texture is thin, then he starts to rap and the backing stays as the simple beats. At the first chorus spacey drawn out notes are added and more percussion betas, that sound very wooden. This song is catchy and even if you don't like hip-hop or rap you have to admit that this guy has talent. This song is poppy, but not as much that makes it un-listenable, or so much that you can't appreciate the talent of the singer. At the end all other sound is suddenly stopped and there is a melody that sounds like it is being played from inside a room padded with cloth. I like this effect but it's not a revelation.

Overall I think this guy has talent but it is too hip-hoppy for me to listen to it for too long. So I'll give it 5/10.

iTunes Single of the week review #4

Hi,

This week the iTunes single of the week is "Love. Regret. Forgive. Forget" by The First.

The First are a 5 piece rock band.

Review:
They get straight into the heavy bassy, confused drum beats that sound like they've been singing all day and we've only just started listening! I like this but I prefer it when there is an intro and we are entered in gently. This is definitely a rock track (which I seem to be having a thing for at the moment!). The singer is good but they are just your average rocky pop band, nothing particularly stands out for me, but saying that I think these guys might be big. Nothing really changes throughout this song, it sounds like they play on a loop and you listen to a bit when you feel like it. The guitarist is talented and there are some electric, wobbly bits which show this off which are good.

Overall I think this song is good, but nothing special, I'll give it 5/10.

iTunes single of the week review #2 & #3

Hi,

Sorry that I couldn't do the review last week, I just didn't have time! So I though today I would do a review of last weeks and this week's single! Last week it was Tonight by Wilkinson and today it was Riptide by Vance Joy.

Wilkinson (also known as Mark Wilkinson) is a drum & bass and dubstep producer from London. He remixes songs and produces records. He only has singles out.

Review:
This song is electro-pop, and let me warn you now I have never liked anything electro-pop! Every now and again a woman's voice is put on with effects like echo, fading and wobbly (technical term for you there!) which does add something. The spacey far out beats that sound like they are being heard far away which I relatively quite liked but this didn't last for long. The whole song is very samey and boring. It just sounds like computer game sound effects. At one point it breaks down into more R&B, faster beats, sometimes with some actual pitch changes!

Overall I really don't like this track, way way way too electronic and samey. Ill give it 2/10 for the spacey bit!

Vance Joy is an Australian singer/songwriter from Melbourne. He has one EP out called "God loves you when you're dancing" (I just love that title!!)

Review:
This song is an upbeat beachy sounding track. The first chords sound like you're sitting in a beach shack (in a good way). But his crackly, closed jaw, sometimes breathy vocals sound gorgeous and unexpected against everything else. I love that everything stops for a beat before the chorus. At the end the music stops and he is one beat behind singing "wrong", this is a gorgeous effect that makes you think. I love the chorus with only guitar chords and the tambourine, this whole track is so catchy and makes you tap your head and feet!

Overall, if you haven't already guessed I love this song!! I'll give it 9/10.

Sorry this is a bit late but hope you enjoyed!!

iTunes single of the week review #1

Hi,

Every Tuesday iTunes brings out a single of the week which you can download for free from iTunes. So, every Tuesday I'll have a listen and review it. This week it's "roots" by Orla Gartland.

Orla Gartland is an 18 year old singer, guitarist and ukulele player. She plays acoustic, folk, indie pop and indie folk. She only has one EP out called "Roots".

Review:
This song is indie pop with futuristic sounding electronic beats and acoustic guitar chords which work really well together. She has a really youthful sounding voice which is similar to birdy and Taylor Swift. Her lyrics are good and the music suits her voice well. The song starts off with only guitar and beats which sounds good and clean, but then as the song gets going the texture builds with backing singers and piano and more percussion which feels good. But I liked it best with the thin texture.

Overall I like this track but I don't love it. I think her voice is just a little too youthful and her songs a little too poppy for my tastes so I would give it 7/10.

Do you think this is a good feature? Let me know in the comments!